Behaviour of ewes (Ovis gmelini musimon x Ovis sp.) during the rut

It was tested whether male courtship induces changes in activities in femal e mouflon (Ovis gmelini musimon x Ovis sp.) due to the promiscuous mating s ystem. For females in the presence of males, we expected a higher involveme nt in social interactions, reduced time spent feeding, increased time stand ing/scanning and moving, and a higher rate and level of act transition and diversity. We tested these hypotheses by comparing mouflon ewe activities i n mixed-sex, mating (one estrous female with at least one adult male) and f emale groups during the pre-rut (16-31/Oct.), the rut (01-30/Nov.) and the post-rut (01-15/Dec.). Females devoted more Lime to feeding and less to sta nding/scanning from the pre- to the post-rut, in mixed and female groups. A t the same time, act transition and diversity decreased in female groups. F emales could experience reduced appetite during the oestrus period but ecol ogical factors (better quality and higher abundance of food) may explain th ese results. Differences between mixed-sex and female groups were found only during the full-rut. Females devoted more time to standing/scanning and less to feedin g in mixed-sex groups. Although significant, the percent of time dedicated to feeding and standing/scanning was weakly related to the interaction freq uency. So the presence of males seems to have a low incidence on female act ivities, as seen through the low level of social interactions involving fem ales, and their low behavioural responsiveness. Mating groups were observed only during the pre- and the full-rut. Because of small sample size (N = 8 ), data from the two periods were mixed in order to compare group types. Da ta on mating groups suggest that oestrous ewes feed much less, move more, c hange activity more often and are involved in social interactions more freq uently than in mixed-sex and female groups. However, as oestrus lasts only 1-3 days, the energy costs of the rut are thought to be low for females.