Abstract

FREITAS-DE-MELO, Aline; LACUESTA, Lorena  and  UNGERFELD, Rodolfo. Homosexual behavior in male ruminants: Review. Rev. mex. de cienc. pecuarias [online]. 2014, vol.5, n.1, pp.91-106. ISSN 2448-6698.

In several male ruminants, including both, domestic and wild species, it has been reported the presence of homosexual behaviour between males. The aim of this review was to summarize the information about neuroendocrinological differences between homo and heterosexual individuals, and the relationship between homosexual behaviour and sexual steroid concentration. Moreover, we present information that link homosexual behavior with social dominance, age, social environment during the developmental period, and environment disturbances. Therefore, we include information about other physiologic aspects, such as reproductive seasonality, including unpublished information about seasonal changes in domestic rams and captive male Iberian ibex, and the relationship between seasonal changes in testosterone and behaviour. Other topic discussed is the "buller syndrome", which is commonly observed in steers, in which is observed that some males are repeatedly mounted by others males. In brief, homosexual behaviour in male ruminants is multietiologic, and some aspects are understudied, so the interpretation may be cautiously considered before deep studies are developed.

Keywords : Sexual behavior; Sexually dimorphic area; Sexual orientation; Buller syndrome; Testosterone; Ungulates.

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