SEASONAL AND OTHER FACTORS AFFECTING THE SEXUAL-BEHAVIOR OF ALPACAS

Records of sexual behaviour of 13 male alpacas (machos) and 97 female alpacas (hembras) obtained during three spring (mid-October to early D ecember, n=96) and four autumn (mid-February to March, n=98) joining p eriods were analysed to determine the effects of season and other fact ors on sexual behaviour. Joining was carried out by introducing one ma cho to one hembra in a 5.5 mX7 m pen. In spring, there was a higher fr equency of spitting, kicking, and threatening to spit by hembras, the duration of pre-copulatory chases was longer, mating duration was shor ter, and a lower percentage of hembras were mated, compared with autum n joining periods (P<0.01). Sexually inexperienced hembras were more l ikely to kick, and attempt to escape from the testing pen, but were le ss likely to spit or threaten the macho, compared with experienced hem bras (P<0.01). Sexual receptivity was related to the performance of sp itting, threatening and kicking by hembras, as these behaviours reduce d the likelihood of mating (P<0.001). It was concluded that season and previous sexual experience affected female behaviour at joining, whic h in turn affected mating activity. In addition, a negative relationsh ip between the time elapsed since parturition of experienced hembras a nd the likelihood of mating was found (P<0.001).