SCRUTINIZING COURTSHIP ETHOGRAM OF RED SOKOTO BUCK EXPOSED TO TWO OESTRUS NULLIPAROUS DOES

Abstract

Raising goat requires more than knowledge of feeding, medication, breeding and various other routine management. Having a clearer understanding of buck mating behavior in the flock is necessary to ensure a good breeding program. One apparently healthy mature red Sokoto buck of 4 years old was exposed to two oestrus nulliparous does of 1 year-old to evaluate courtship behavior for 60 minutes in breeding pen. One hour videotapping was copied into computer system and visualized to record frequencies and durations of reproductive behavioral events. Courtship behavior frequencies and durations were presented in figure 1 and 2 respectively. The result showed that foreleg kicks (12 times repeated) was the highest frequent courtship behavior displayed by the buck followed by snorts, nuzzling, chin resting and vocalization. Buck spent higher time (10.52 mins) without displaying courtship behaviors while nuzzling (6.36mins) and self-enurination (6.26 mins) was the highest courtship duration spent by buck while mounting without ejaculation (2.10 min) was the lowest time spent. The results showed that red Sokoto buck can be used to evaluate courtship ethograms and serve as a tool that will provide holistic ideas of modern reproductive behaviors for better and clear understanding of courtship behavior causes, its mechanism and complex interaction between the animals to both internal and external environments that influence such behaviors.