SELECTION OF BUFFALO BULLS - SEXUAL-BEHAVIOR AND ITS RELATIONSHIP TO SEMEN PRODUCTION AND FERTILITY

Forty-four buffalo bulls, used for artificial insemination, were studi ed to develop libido, mating ability and sexual behavior indices for s election purposes. For each index, 5 categories (i.e., excellent, very good, good, fair and poor) were established. The sexual behavior inde x was found to be more reliable than the libido and mating ability ind ices. Buffalo bulls in good to excellent categories were considered ac ceptable sires. Reaction time, sexual aggressiveness, and scores of li bido, mating ability and sexual behavior differed significantly among the various categories of the 3 indices. Libido significantly correlat ed with mating ability (r=0.89; P<0.001). Sexual behavior expressed si gnificant relationship with age (r=0.41; P<0.01) and body weight (r=0. 48,. P<0.01), but was nonsignificant with the scrotal circumference (r =0.28; P>0.05) of buffalo bulls. However, these relationships were abs ent (P>0.05) in the acceptable sires. Semen production was correlated with sexual behavior in only the fair and poor categories of buffalo b ulls (r=0.84; P<0.005). Sexual behavior had no relationship with the f ertility rate of buffalo bulls (r=0.44; P>0.05). It is concluded that the sexual behavior index can be used successfully for the selection o f buffalo bulls. Excellent- to good bulls should be used in an artific ial breeding program if they qualify in the other selection indices.