Reproductive and Maternal Behavior of Livestock - Genetics and the Behavior of Domestic Animals - page 180

In feral horses stable social relationships are maintained with the stallion
defending the harem band against other males. However, sneak copulations
have been observed. Mares that raise a foal that is not sired by the dominant
stallion have been observed to be more protective of their foal due to
increased infanticide risk for the offspring ( Gray et al., 2012 ). The rate of
aggression between the stallion and the foal can be used as a predictor of
maternal protectiveness ( Cameron et al., 2003 ) with mare protectiveness
being negatively correlated with reproductive success in the subsequent year.
REPRODUCTIVE BEHAVIOR IN WATER BUFFALO
Water buffalo, which are among the most important sources of food and
draft power in developing countries, are often differentiated into swamp
(chromosome number 48) and river (chromosome number 50) types.
Analyses of maternal lineages and nuclear DNA indicate that river and
swamp buffalo originated from different wild populations ( Yindee et al.,
2010 ). These types can interbreed, resulting in individuals with 49 chromo-
somes which are apparently fertile. Water buffalo females are polyestrus,
with less obvious overt signs of estrus being shown than in cattle ( Perera,
2011 ). The most reliable sign is acceptance by the female of the male, who
often employs visual observation of mounting behavior to detect estrous
females. The intensity of sexual activity (both male and female) is reduced
during daylight hours; although mating can occur during the day, it is sup-
pressed during the hotter periods. The water buffalo, particularly the swamp
breeds, will breed throughout the year although nutritional, and possibly
other constraints, may influence this ( Jainudeen, 1983 ). In general, informa-
tion on genetic influences on water buffalo reproductive behavior is lacking
( Jainudeen, 1983 ).
Male Reproductive Behavior
Buffalo bulls are capable of breeding throughout the year, although some
seasonal fluctuations occur in reproductive functions. For example, libido
score was significantly higher and reaction time less in river buffalo bulls
during the peak breeding season (autumn, early winter) than in the low
breeding season, or summer ( Younis et al., 2003 ). Male behavior is similar
to that of Bos taurus bulls, although less intense. A reputation for being a
sluggish breeder is however, considered to be unfounded ( Cockrill, 1981 ).
Sniffing of the vulva and of urine often precedes flehmen and mounting with
the occurrence of flehmen behavior being most evident during estrus
( Rajanarayanan and Archunan, 2004 ) where several estrous-specific urinary
compounds have been identified as putative sexual pheromones
( Rajanarayanan and Archunan, 2011 ). Mating is brief, lasting a few seconds
only, and the ejaculatory thrust is less marked than it is in Bos taurus bulls.