An Approach to the Measurement of Sexual Behavior in the Bull (Bos Taurus) Using Variable Female Stimulus Conditions
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University of Kentucky UKnowledge University of Kentucky Doctoral Dissertations Graduate School 2003 AN APPROACH TO THE MEASUREMENT OF SEXUAL BEHAVIOR IN THE BULL (BOS TAURUS) USING VARIABLE FEMALE STIMULUS CONDITIONS John Denver Bailey University of Kentucky, [email protected] Right click to open a feedback form in a new tab to let us know how this document benefits ou.y Recommended Citation Bailey, John Denver, "AN APPROACH TO THE MEASUREMENT OF SEXUAL BEHAVIOR IN THE BULL (BOS TAURUS) USING VARIABLE FEMALE STIMULUS CONDITIONS" (2003). University of Kentucky Doctoral Dissertations. 239. https://uknowledge.uky.edu/gradschool_diss/239 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at UKnowledge. It has been accepted for inclusion in University of Kentucky Doctoral Dissertations by an authorized administrator of UKnowledge. For more information, please contact [email protected]. ABSTRACT OF DISSERTATION John Denver Bailey The Graduate School University of Kentucky 2003 AN APPROACH TO THE MEASUREMENT OF SEXUAL BEHAVIOR IN THE BULL (BOS TAURUS) USING VARIABLE FEMALE STIMULUS CONDITIONS _____________________________________ ABSTRACT OF DISSERTATION _____________________________________ A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the College of Agriculture at the University of Kentucky By John Denver Bailey Lexington, Kentucky Director: Keith K. Schillo, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Animal Sciences Lexington, Kentucky 2003 Copyright © John Denver Bailey 2003 ABSTRACT OF DISSERTATION AN APPROACH TO THE MEASUREMENT OF SEXUAL BEHAVIOR IN THE BULL (BOS TAURUS) USING VARIABLE FEMALE STIMULUS CONDITIONS Most researchers studying sexual behavior of the bull have adopted the practice of severely restraining and sedating female stimuli, utilizing so-called “service stanchions” and quantifying behavioral events expressed by each bull. Based on these observations, bulls are classified as having high, medium, or low libido and ranked according to their ability to “service” the inanimate stimuli. It has been assumed that these methods represent appropriate measurements of reproductive behavior that will be expressed in a natural mating scenario and that bull sexual behavior can be studied in a manner that is independent of the context of the female. Hence, conventional methods fail to consider the appropriate contexts under which cattle interact sexually. Based on these issues, I investigated the role of unrestrained female stimuli in modulating the expression of male sexual behavior in domesticated bovine. Experiments were conducted to develop a paradigm for studying sexual behavior in bulls within a social setting that permits extensive interactions between males and females. The first experiment tested the hypothesis that female novelty and receptivity interact to govern the expression of mounting behavior in the bull. In this experiment, bulls that were exposed sequentially to 4, novel, estrual females expressed more mounts with intromission than when exposed alternately to two, estrual females or to the same estrual female over a four-hour period. Bulls exposed to a non-estrual female were not allowed to mount and intromit although they readily attempted to mount. A second experiment tested the hypothesis that mounting behavior of bulls exposed sequentially to 4, estrual females in 2 hours would be the same as that in bulls exposed to a group of 4, estrual females for 2 hours. Results suggested that in group mating situations there are differences in how males distribute copulations when presented with unrestrained stimulus females sequentially. Repeatability of sexual behavior was calculated by repeatedly testing bulls paired with either single or multiple unrestrained, estrual females on 8 different occasions and calculating the intraclass correlations. Overall, repeatability was low and indicated a large environmental component. This electronic dissertation contains multimedia video files which allow the reader to visualize representative examples of sexual behavior in Bos taurus. KEY WORDS: bull sexual behavior, Coolidge effect, mounting, intromission, serving capacity John Denver Bailey July 30, 2003 AN APPROACH TO THE MEASUREMENT OF SEXUAL BEHAVIOR IN THE BULL (BOS TAURUS) USING VARIABLE FEMALE STIMULUS CONDITIONS By John Denver Bailey Keith K. Schillo, Ph.D. Director of Dissertation David L. Harmon, Ph.D. Director of Graduate Studies July 30, 2003 Date RULES FOR USE OF DISSERTATIONS Unpublished dissertations submitted for the Doctor’s degree and deposited in the University of Kentucky Library are as a rule open for inspection, but are to be used only with due regard to the rights of the authors. Bibliographical references may be noted, but quotations or summaries of parts may be published only with the permission of the author, and with the usual scholarly acknowledgements. Extensive copying or publication of the dissertation in whole or in part also requires the consent of the Dean of Graduate School of the University of Kentucky. DISSERTATION John Denver Bailey The Graduate School University of Kentucky 2003 AN APPROACH TO THE MEASUREMENT OF SEXUAL BEHAVIOR IN THE BULL (BOS TAURUS) USING VARIABLE FEMALE STIMULUS CONDITIONS _____________________________________ DISSERTATION _____________________________________ A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the College of Agriculture at the University of Kentucky By John Denver Bailey Lexington, Kentucky Director: Keith K. Schillo, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Animal Sciences Lexington, Kentucky 2003 Copyright © John Denver Bailey 2003 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS When I decided to pursue a Ph.D., I had little idea of the enormity of the undertaking. My arduous journey here was fraught with difficulty and frustration and I feel damned lucky to have made it. My mentor and committee chair, Dr. Keith Schillo, has helped me to realize that the endeavors of a scientist are more than simply means to an end. His constant friendship and camaraderie were delicately balanced with his challenges and criticisms. I appreciate you, Keith, for exemplifying the ethical standards to which I aspire as an intellectual and personally thank you for facilitating my goals as a physiologist. I should also like to thank the other members of my dissertation committee, Drs. Robert J. Harmon, Leslie H. Anderson, Thomas L. Roszman, and outside examiner Dr. David F. Westneat for their expertise, criticism, availability and intellectually stimulating conversations. I should especially thank Dr. Anderson for including me in his research and extension activities. You have all helped make my experiences here at the University of Kentucky very fulfilling. Appreciation is expressed to Bruce Hightshoe, Jeffrey Greenwell, Josh Piel, and Shannon Rudd at the University of Kentucky Animal Research Center for their excellent technical assistance with my projects. From daily care and maintenance of the facilities and animals to helping with several unscheduled procedures, they always made the effort to help and literally saved me countless hours of work. I had a pleasurable time in Kentucky with many fellow colleagues and I should like to thank them individually for the roles they played in my personal life. Thanks to Dennis B. Imwalle, Ph.D. (for interesting repartee and e-laughter), Justin Rhinehart (for cigarettes and teaching me about bluegrass music), Aaron Arnett (for being “a Great American”), Carrie Shultz, Ph.D. (for being our Carrie Lou-Lou), Ryan Yamka (for being the best “damned hippie” I ever met), Beth Kitts (for letting me do “brain surgery” on your steers), Sonya Gissendanner (for company on the 8th floor when everyone else was gone home…sleeping, I suspect), Brian Zanghi (for all those fly- fishing dreams and jumping trout) and Katie Hanson (for making me eat alligator). You all helped me get through this insanity and I feel you are my “comrades-in-arms”. iii Additionally, my liver and central nervous system thank you for the occasional beer, bourbon, or whiskey. My grandmother and mother have been the cornerstones of my support system. When times were tough growing up, in spite of my many indiscretions, they never gave up on me. I especially thank you, Mom, for not getting too angry when, as a child, I would either take apart a brand new toy because I asked, “How does this work?”, or would bring home little creatures because I was curious about them. I find it humorous that, after spending all this time, energy and money in pursuit of the doctorate, I am still taking things apart and asking the question, “How does this work?” Your clemency helped form a foundation of inquisitiveness and provided the primary impetus for me to become a scientist. I am more fulfilled because of you and I want to thank you for making the tough decisions…they have made all the difference today. I should like to acknowledge my stepfather, Waddy, for taking care of our family for so many years and for taking a personal interest in me through his applied teachings about horses, cattle and ranching. When I think back to those days on the Ponder Place back in New Mexico, fond memories are easily recalled and you are always there with them. We had some good times, we worked hard, and we made it out alive! I should like to thank my wife’s parents, LaVerne and Douglas French, for their continued love, support, and encouragement. You are both definitely among my most loved