Here’s a concise bullet point summary for learning about livestock:
Breeding
Pigs, sheep, and cattle exhibit distinct breeding cycles: pigs are non-seasonal and polyoestrous with cycles lasting 18-24 days, sheep are seasonal and exhibit 17-day cycles, and cattle are polyoestrous with cycles averaging 21 days.
Here’s a more detailed comparison:
Pigs:
- Cycle Length:18-24 days (average 21 days).
- Seasonality: Non-seasonal, meaning they can breed year-round, though some seasonal effects may still exist.
- Polyoestrous: They cycle continuously throughout the year, meaning they are not limited to a specific season for breeding.
- Offspring:Pigs are known for having large litters, unlike cows or mares which typically have single or occasional twins.
Sheep:
- Cycle Length: 17 days.
- Seasonality: Seasonal breeders, typically breeding in the fall and winter when daylight hours are shorter.
- Polyoestrous: They cycle continuously during their breeding season.
- Offspring: Ewes typically give birth to one or two lambs.
Cattle:
- Cycle Length: 21 days (ranging from 18 to 24 days).
- Seasonality: Non-seasonal, but some breeds may show seasonal effects.
- Polyoestrous: They cycle continuously throughout the year.
- Offspring: Cows typically have one calf.
Mating
•Semen and sperm
•The amount of semen and the number of sperm cells produced by male livestock can vary considerably due to factors such as breed, age, season, and overall health.
•However, here are some general estimates for each species during a single ejaculation:
•Bulls
•Semen Volume: Approximately 3–8 mL per ejaculation
•Sperm Concentration: Around 1–2 billion sperm per mL
•Total Sperm Count: Roughly 3–16 billion sperm per ejaculation
•Copulation Duration: The actual physical mating is very brief—typically around 5–15 seconds.
•Note: While the act itself is short, other associated behaviors (like courtship) may extend the overall interaction time, but the insemination phase is rapid.
•Rams
•Semen Volume: Roughly 0.5–2 mL per ejaculation
•Sperm Concentration: Approximately 2–3 billion sperm per mL
•Total Sperm Count: About 1–6 billion sperm per ejaculation
•Copulation Duration: Mating is also quick in sheep, usually lasting about 5–15 seconds during the actual act.
•Note: As with cattle, this short duration pertains to the insemination itself, though pre-mating behaviours can take a bit longer.
•
•Boars
•Semen Volume: Typically in the range of 100–300 mL per ejaculation (often around 150–300 mL in many cases)
•Sperm Concentration: Approximately 200–300 million sperm per mL
•Total Sperm Count: Roughly 20–90 billion sperm per ejaculation
•Copulation Duration: In pigs, there is a unique feature called the copulatory tie. While the initial intromission and ejaculation occur quickly (in a matter of seconds), the tie can last from 20 to 30 minutes.
•Explanation: During this tie, the boar and sow remain physically connected, which helps ensure effective semen transfer.
•
•