Journal of Equine Veterinary Science
Volume 27, Issue 9 , Pages 390-393 , September 2007

Stallion-like Behavior in Mares: Review of Incidence, Characteristics, Ovarian Activity, and Role of Testosterone

  • M.O. Gastal, DVM, PhD

      Affiliations

    • From Eutheria Foundation, Cross Plains, Wisconsin 53528, USA
    • ,
  • E.L. Gastal, DVM, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Pathobiomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, 1656 Linden Drive, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53706
    • ,
  • M.A. Beg, DVM, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Pathobiomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, 1656 Linden Drive, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53706
    • ,
  • O.J. Ginther, VMD, PhD

      Affiliations

    • From Eutheria Foundation, Cross Plains, Wisconsin 53528, USA
    • Department of Pathobiomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, 1656 Linden Drive, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53706
    • Corresponding Author InformationReprint requests: O.J. Ginther, Department of Pathobiomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, 1656 Linden Drive, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53706.

References 

  1. Azzie MAJ. Some clinical observations on the effect of implant of oestradiol benzoate in brood mare. J Reprod Fertil. 1975;23(Suppl):303–306
  2. Nishikawa Y. Studies on reproduction in horses. Tokyo: Japan Racing Assoc; 1959;98–99
  3. Cougouille-Gauffreteau B. Effects of androgen treatment on social and sexual behaviour in mares. Appl Anim Behav Sci. 1984;13:175;(abstr)
  4. McDonnell SM, Garcia MC, Blanchard TL, Kenney RM. Evaluation of androgenized mares as an estrus detection aid. Theriogenology. 1986;26:261–266
  5. McDonnell SM, Hinrichs K, Cooper WL, Kenney RM. Use of androgenized mare as an aid in detection of estrus in mares. Theriogenology. 1988;4:547–553
  6. Withrow JM, Sargent GF, Scheffrahn NS, Kesler DJ. Induction of male sex behavior in pony mares with testosterone propionate. Theriogenology. 1983;20:485–490
  7. Squires EL, Voss JL, Maher JM, Shideler RK. Fertility of young mares after long-term anabolic steroid treatment. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 1985;186:583–586
  8. Fretz PB. Behavioral virilization in a brood mare. Appl Anim Ethol. 1977;3:277–280
  9. McCue PM, Roser JF, Munro CJ, Liu IKM, Lasley BL. Granulosa cell tumors of the equine ovary. Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract. 2006;22:799–817
  10. Meinecke B, Gips H, Meinecke-Tillmann S. Progestagen, androgen and oestrogen levels in plasma and ovarian follicular fluid during the oestrous cycle of the mare. Anim Reprod Sci. 1987;12:255–265
  11. Stabenfeldt GH, Hughes JP, Kennedy PC, Meagher DM, Neely DP. Clinical findings, pathological changes and endocrinological secretory patterns in mares with ovarian tumours. J Reprod Fertil. 1979;27(Suppl):277–285
  12. Fraser AF. Species-specific parturient behaviour. In: Farm animal behaviour. Baltimore, MD: Williams and Wilkins Co.; 1974;p. 139–146
  13. Ginther OJ. Reproductive biology of the mare: basic and applied aspects. Cross Plains, WI: Equiservices Publishing; 1992;77–83, 173–181
  14. Rossdale PD, Ricketts SW. The practice of equine stud medicine. Baltimore, MD: Williams and Wilkins Co.; 1974;23–24
  15. Henry M, McDonnell SM, Lodi LD, Gastal EL. Pasture mating behaviour of donkeys (Equus asinus) at natural and induced oestrous. J Reprod Fertil. 1991;44(Suppl):77–86
  16. Henry M, Lodi LD, Gastal MO. Sexual behaviour of domesticated donkeys (Equus asinus) breeding under controlled or free range management systems. Appl Anim Behav Sci. 1998;60:263–276
  17. Vasey PL. Same-sex sexual partner preference in hormonally and neurologically unmanipulated animals. Annu Rev Sex Res. 2002;13:141–179
  18. Shearer MK, Katz LS. Female-female mounting among goats stimulates sexual performance in males. Horm Behav. 2006;50:33–37
  19. Fang J, Clemens LG. Contextual determinants of female–female mounting in laboratory rats. Anim Behav. 1999;57:545–555
  20. Vasey PL, Foroud A, Duckworth N, Kovacovsky SD. Male-female and female-female mounting in Japanese macaques: a comparative study of posture and movement. Arch Sex Behav. 2006;35:116–128
  21. Bristol F. Breeding behaviour of a stallion at pasture with 20 mares in synchronized oestrus. J Reprod Fertil. 1982;32(Suppl):71–77
  22. Ginther OJ. Sexual behavior following introduction of a stallion into a group of mares. Theriogenology. 1983;19:877–886
  23. Ginther OJ, Scraba ST, Nuti LC. Pregnancy rates and sexual behavior under pasture breeding conditions in mares. Theriogenology. 1983;20:333–345
  24. Gastal MO, Gastal EL, Beg MA, Ginther OJ. Elevated plasma testosterone concentrations during stallion-like sexual behavior in mares (Equus caballus). Horm Behav. 2007;
  25. Woods GL, Ginther OJ. Recent studies relating to the collection of multiple embryos in mares. Theriogenology. 1983;19:101–108
  26. Ginther OJ, Utt MD, Beg MA. Follicle deviation and diurnal variation in circulating hormone concentrations in mares. Anim Reprod Sci. 2007;100:197–203

 Refereed

PII: S0737-0806(07)00257-2

doi: 10.1016/j.jevs.2007.07.004

Journal of Equine Veterinary Science
Volume 27, Issue 9 , Pages 390-393 , September 2007

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