Time of copulation during estrus period on estrus duration and LH response in Boer goats

Abstract The objectives of this investigation were to determine the effect of the time of copulation during the estrus period on estrus duration and luteinizing hormone (LH) response in goats. A controlled randomized study with two replicates (first = n = 12; second = n = 24), in which Boer does were divided at each replicate into three groups, was performed. Copulations at the beginning of estrus (two copulas within the first 4 h after estrus; COP-1; n = 12), copulations around the middle of estrus (two copulas around 16 h after estrus; COP-2; n = 12), and noncopulations (only mounts) throughout the estrus period (control group; CON; n = 12) were performed. Estrus duration for CON group was 41.3 ± 8.2 h; for COP-1, it was 34.0 ± 5.3 h, and for COP-2, it was 39.7 ± 6.9 h ( P = 0.04). Differences were detected between COP-1 and CON groups ( P = 0.01) and between COP-1 and COP-2 groups ( P = 0.05) but not between CON and COP-2 groups ( P = 0.56). The LH peak time for the CON group was 20.0 ± 8.0 h; for the COP-1 group, it was 13.0 ± 3.6 h, and for the COP-2 group, it was 20.5 ± 5.8 h ( P = 0.04). The COP-1 group was different than the COP-2 ( P = 0.02) and CON groups ( P = 0.03), and no differences were detected between these last two groups ( P = 0.87). It was concluded that copulation reduced estrus duration and hastened the LH peak time only when performed during the beginning of estrus.