Mounting exhibited between cows is not associated with sexual motivation

Area of Science:

• Ethology
• Animal Behavior
• Reproductive Biology

Background:

• Female-female (f-f) mounting is observed in various species, including cows.
• This behavior in cows has been traditionally interpreted as sexual, due to similarities with male mounting behavior.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if sexual motivation influences the frequency of f-f mounting in cows.
• To test the hypothesis that sexually relevant stimuli increase f-f mounting in estrus cows.

Main Methods:

• Estrus was induced in cows using estradiol injections.
• Two stimulus conditions were used: a non-sexually active steer and a sexually active bull.
• F-f mounting frequency was recorded and compared between the steer-stimulus and bull-stimulus conditions.

Main Results:

• Estrus induction and sexual motivation were confirmed by increased proximity to the stimulus animal in the bull-stimulus condition.
• No significant difference in f-f mounting frequency was found between the steer-stimulus and bull-stimulus conditions.
• A substantial proportion (44.6%) of observed f-f mounting occurred when cows were not in estrus.

Conclusions:

• F-f mounting in cows is not significantly associated with sexual motivation.
• The findings challenge the traditional view of f-f mounting as a primarily sexual behavior in cows.