Parallel changes in the proceptive and receptive behaviour of the ewe

Abstract

This study investigated the proceptive and receptive behaviour of the ewe in detail, and examined the relationship between these two aspects of female sexual behaviour. In the first experiment, ovariectomized ewes that had received no hormonal treatment (non-oestrus) were observed for 2 min every 4 h for 40 h in a T-maze that contained flock-mate ewes in one arm and rams in the other arm. These non-oestrous ewes spent almost 80% of their time in the T-maze with ewes, indicating that non-oestrous ewes are motivated to be with ewes and/or flock mates rather than rams. In Experiment 2, ovariectomized ewes treated with progesterone and 25 μg of oestradiol benzoate (ODB) were observed in the T-ma..