A method for the quantification of butting activity in androgen-treated wethers

Abstract

A technique is described for recording butting activity in individually penned sheep as an index of aggression. The method used wall-mounted reflective sprung panels which, when depressed in response to a butt, activated totalising electronic counters automatically printing-out every hour. Eight Dalesbred wethers were tested using this system over a 5-week period. During the first week, the animals received no treatment and the panels were used sporadically. However, during Weeks 2–5, sheep (N = 4) treated with testosterone propionate (20 mg/day) increased their butting activity, whereas those (N = 4) similarly treated with dihydrotestosterone propionate did not. The results suggest that non-aromatizable androgens may not support aggression in the ram.