Hostname: page-component-76fb5796d-x4r87 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-28T08:44:29.867Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Effects of housing and rearing on age at puberty and libido in boars

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

H. R. Thomas
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Science, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, USA
H. G. Kattesh
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Science, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, USA
J. W. Knight
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Science, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, USA
F. C. Gwazdauskas
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Science, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, USA
T. N. Meacham
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Science, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, USA
E. T. Kornegay
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Science, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, USA
Get access

Abstract

The effects of type of housing (outdoors on earth v. confinement on concrete) and system of rearing (single v. group) on age at puberty and expression of libido in boars were examined. Boars kept on earth lots and reared in groups reached puberty earlier and demonstrated greater sexual aggressiveness compared with contemporary boars maintained under other treatment combinations. Additionally, the effect of rearing boars either in all-male groups or withprepubertal gilts was examined. Age at puberty was not affected by the presence of females, but boars reared without females attained a higher libido score.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1979

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Hanson, L. E. 1951. The fertility of boars reared in a restricted environment. Am. J. vet. Res. 12: 118122.Google Scholar
Nikulina, N. L. and Ermakova, T. E. 1962. [An important problem in stud work], Svinovodstvo, Mosk. 16 (8): 2628.Google Scholar
Turkheimer, A. R., Young, D. C. and Foote, R. H. 1958. Techniques for semen collection; semen production in young boars. Cornell Vet. 48: 291299.Google Scholar
Wells, B. H. 1966. The effect of group vs. individual confinement on the reproductive and behavioral patterns in young boars in pasture-lots and on concrete. MS Thesis, Dep. Anim. Sci., Virginia Polytechnic Institute.Google Scholar