Sexual experience and temperament affect the response of Merino ewes to the ram effect during the anoestrous season

In seasonally anoestrous ewes of many breeds, the introduction of rams triggers an increase in gonadotrophin secretion that induces ovulation, a phenomenon known as the 'ram effect'. The ram effect is a practical method for mating ewes outside the natural breeding season, and also can provide synchronised lambing, but the variability of the response, especially in young animals, reduces its potential for widespread application. The aim of our study was to assess two factors that are thought to contribute to the variability in young ewes: temperament and sexual experience. We used anovulatory ewes from a flock that had been genetically selected for 'calm' or 'nervous' temperament and compared the endocrine and ovarian responses to the ram effect in four groups (each n=15): 'calm' and parous (3-6 years old); 'calm' and nulliparous (2 years old); 'nervous' and parous; and 'nervous' and nulliparous. Parous ewes, independently of their temperament, exhibited a faster endocrine response and a higher proportion of females cycling after ram introduction than nulliparous ewes. 'Nervous' ewes exhibited a higher proportion of females cycling after ram introduction than calm ewes, but only in the nulliparous group. We conclude that temperament exerts little influence on the response to the ram effect in sexually experienced ewes, and that females of 'nervous' temperament appear to respond better when sexually 'naive'. Both sexual experience and temperament need to be taken into consideration when flock management involves the ram effect. Finally, some ewes were cyclic at ram introduction, yet exhibited an increase in LH secretion even in the presence of high concentrations of progesterone. The mechanism by which the inhibitory effect of progesterone on LH secretion was bypassed needs to be clarified.