Rams prefer tailed than docked ewes as sexual partners.

In several ungulate species, the tail is used to communicate sexual states of the female. However, the role of the tail or its movements in the sexual attractiveness of the ewe and sexual activity of the ram is still unknown. Two experiments were performed to determine the influence of the tail of the ewe in these aspects.

The tail in tropical hair ewes (Ovis aries) that are in estrus is used as a proceptive signal and favors ram' copulation.

Two experiments were performed to determine if the tail has a role: 1) in proceptive behavior, and 2) in facilitating copulation in hair sheep. The movements and position of the tail of estrous and non-estrous ewes in response to male courtship were compared in the first study. In the second study, the courtship of rams and mating behavior directed towards tailed or tail-docked, in estrus or diestrus ewes, were compared.

Short communication: milk production and lamb development in Saint Croix and Katahdin hair sheep breeds (Ovis aries).

The aim of the present study was to characterize milk production and preweaning development of lambs from Katahdin and Saint Croix sheep. Milk production was measured weekly, from birth to 8 weeks using oxytocin technique, in 12 Katahdin (62.0 ± 5.

Influence of tongue inspection during cysticercosis diagnosis on some behavioral and physiological stress measures in pigs (Sus scrofa domestica).

To evaluate the level of stress induced by the tongue inspection method during cysticercosis diagnosis in pigs at 60 and 90 kg, 27 animals were assigned to one of three experimental groups. In the first group (T1), pigs were held with a snout noose. In addition, animals in T2 were subjected to tongue inspection, while in T0, none of the procedures described above were performed.