Competitive ability of rams selected for high and low levels of sexual performance

International audienceThe objective of this study was to determine any differences in the competitive ability of rams differing in levels of sexual performance. Twenty sexually experienced Targhee-type rams were pre-selected from a population of 95 males for exhibiting relatively high and low ejaculation rates when individually exposed to oestrous ewes for 30 min. Each of 10 high performers (HP) were paired with each of 10 low performers (LP) on three occasions when competing for food (after food deprivation) and twice when competing for an oestrous female. Tests were 5 min in duration. Food-deprived HP and LP rams were equally aggressive when competing for a source of food that could only be accessed by one ram at a rime. Time of feeding by HP and LP rams did not differ. HP rams spent more time with the oestrous ewe and attained move mounts in a greater number of pairings than LP rams even though HP and LP rams did not differ in number of successful agonistic interactions (active displacements and successful defences) when competing for the ewe. It was concluded that HP and LP rams, taken as groups, do not differ in their basic competitive ability and that the greater mating success of HP rams can be explained by their higher levels of libido