Influence of breeding experience on the sexual behavior of Criollo stallions during semen collection with an estrous mare

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Abstract
Stallion sexual behavior is modulated by factors such as the seasonality, handling, age, and sexual experience, and the behavioral patterns observed during semen collection differ from those during natural mating. This study characterized the sexual behavior of Criollo stallions during semen collection and compared the precopulatory and copulatory behavior responses between inexperienced and experienced. Fifty-five stallions were evaluated including reaction time, mount time, mount to ejaculation time, mounts without erection or ejaculation, Flehmen’s response, sniffing, biting, kicking, and vocalizations. The animals were classified as inexperienced (≤ 4 years, n=14) or experienced (5-16 years, n=41). Subsequently, experienced were also subdivided by age (5-8, 9-12, and 13-16 years). Statistical analyses included the Wilcoxon test, Kruskal-Wallis, analysis of variance, and Tukey’s test (P < 0.05). Inexperienced stallions exhibited significantly longer reaction (47.5 ± 31.9 s) and mount times (85.8 ± 56.3 s) than experienced (21 ± 8.1 s and 34.3 ± 11.6 s, respectively), whereas mount to ejaculation duration (~35 s) did not differ between groups. Subdivision of experienced showed that reaction and mount time significantly decreased with age, whereas mount to ejaculation interval were similar across three age groups. The most consistent precopulatory behaviors were vocalization and sniffing, regardless of sexual experience. Inexperienced stallions tended to require multiple mounts more often to achieve ejaculation. In conclusion, breeding experience influenced the behavioral patterns of Criollo stallions during semen collection with an estrous mare, resulting in shorter collection times in experienced stallions. Criollo stallions exhibited typical precopulatory and copulatory behaviors.

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