Portal de Periódicos da CAPES

The Potential Effects of Social Interactions on Reproductive Efficiency of Stallions

2012; Elsevier BV; Volume: 32; Issue: 8 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/j.jevs.2012.05.076

1542-7412

Dominik Burger, Claus Wedekind, Bettina Wespi, I Imboden, S. Meinecke‐Tillmann, Harald Sieme,

Sperm and Testicular Function

The reproductive efficiency of stabled domestic stallions is often lower than what could be expected from observations in feral herds. In the wild, stallions typically live with mares in harem bands, with other stallions in bachelor bands, or occasionally in mixed-sex transitional bands. We, therefore, argue that permanent contact with mares may increase reproductive efficiency of stallions suffering from low libido and/or fertility. We also provide a summary of our present knowledge of natural conditions, management, and husbandry of domestic stallions, and of intra- and intersexual behavioral interactions in horses.