Post-Copulatory Behaviour - Anatomy & Physiology
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- Post-copulatory behaviour may be considered in three stages.
- Dismount
- Refractory Period
- Memory
Refractory Period
- Following ejaculation, all males experience a refractory period (commonly referred to as 'sexual exhaustion') before a second ejaculation can occur.
- Length of refractory period depends on several factors:
- Degree of sexual rest prior to copulation
- Age of male
- Degree of female novelty
- Number of previous ejaculations
- Normal for a male to copulate repeatedly with the same female.
- Stallion will breed a mare in heat 5-10 times during one Oestrus period.
- Rams remate with the same ewe 4-5 times.
- Bulls remate with the same cow repeatedly.
- Boars normally serve sows several times over a period of 1-2 days.
- During the refractory period, further stimuli will not cause immediate responsiveness or motivation under a given set of stimulus conditions.
- Restimulation may occur after the refractory period.
- Large variation in behavioural reserves (behavioural capacity/libido) among species.
- Large variation in libido within species.
- Governed by genetic and environmental factors.