An Enhanced Body Condition Improved Sexual Behavior, Ovarian Structure and Function, and Reproductive Fitness in Rangeland-Crossbred Dairy Goats

Francisco G. Veliz-Deras, Cesar A. Meza-Herrera, Angeles De Santiago-Miramontes (), Alejandro Santos-Alvarado, Jorge A. Bustamante-Andrade, Jessica M. Flores-Salas, Fernando Arellano-Rodríguez and Miguel Mellado
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Francisco G. Veliz-Deras: Programa de Posgrado en Ciencias en Producción Agropecuaria, Universidad Autónoma Agraria Antonio Narro Unidad Laguna, Torreón 27054, Mexico
Cesar A. Meza-Herrera: Unidad Regional Universitaria de Zonas Áridas, Universidad Autónoma Chapingo, Bermejillo 35230, Mexico
Angeles De Santiago-Miramontes: Programa de Posgrado en Ciencias en Producción Agropecuaria, Universidad Autónoma Agraria Antonio Narro Unidad Laguna, Torreón 27054, Mexico
Alejandro Santos-Alvarado: Programa de Posgrado en Ciencias en Producción Agropecuaria, Universidad Autónoma Agraria Antonio Narro Unidad Laguna, Torreón 27054, Mexico
Jorge A. Bustamante-Andrade: Facultad de Agricultura y Zootecnia, Universidad Juarez del Estado de Durango, Venecia 35100, Mexico
Jessica M. Flores-Salas: Programa de Posgrado en Ciencias en Producción Agropecuaria, Universidad Autónoma Agraria Antonio Narro Unidad Laguna, Torreón 27054, Mexico
Fernando Arellano-Rodríguez: Programa de Posgrado en Ciencias en Producción Agropecuaria, Universidad Autónoma Agraria Antonio Narro Unidad Laguna, Torreón 27054, Mexico
Miguel Mellado: Programa de Posgrado en Ciencias en Producción Agropecuaria, Universidad Autónoma Agraria Antonio Narro, Saltillo 25315, Mexico

Agriculture, 2023, vol. 13, issue 7, 1-11

Abstract: The possible effect of body condition score (BCS) on ovarian function, sexual behavior, (i.e., females and males; appetitive and consummative), estrus, ovulation, and reproductive performance was investigated in crossbred dairy goats under extensive conditions. Based on their BCS, female goats ( n = 48) were divided into two experimental groups, either with a low (LG; 1.0 ± 0.2 units; n = 26) or with a high BCS (HG: 2.5 ± 0.9 units; n = 22). Bucks n = 4; cc = 2.5. Female sexual behavior (i.e., acceptance of anogenital sniffing and approach, flight, and tail wagging) was higher in the HG ( p < 0.05). In addition, bucks exposed to HG goats showed more approach and mounting attempts ( p < 0.01). There were no significant differences ( p > 0.05) between the groups in either the follicular diameter or size. Interestingly, although follicular volume, pregnancy rate, kidding rate, and total number of kids born alive were higher in the HG goats ( p < 0.05), there were no significant differences ( p < 0.05) in fetal mortality and prolificacy between the HG and LG goats. In addition, the response variables of female ovulation, total number of corpus luteum, ovulation rate, corpus luteum diameter, and luteal tissue volume were more favorable in the HG goats ( p < 0.05). Our research results demonstrate that a higher BCS improves not only the reproductive responses, but also sexual behavior (i.e., female and male). Larger ovarian structures, higher ovulation rates, higher pregnancy and kidding rates, and higher prolificacy were observed in the HG goats managed under a marginal semiarid extensive production system.

Keywords: goats; nutrition; reproduction; body condition; ovarian structures (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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