Annual Sexual Behavior in Boer Bucks Located in the Guerrero Tropics in Mexico

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Review Reports

Journal: Ruminants   

Manuscript No: ruminants-2407939

Manuscript Title: Annual Sexual Behavior in Boer Bucks located in the Guerrero Tropics in Mexico

In general, in this paper, the authors try to address the effect of seasons on body weight, body condition, testicular circumference, odour intensity and sex behaviour in Boer bucks. The results of the present study will help to understand the beneficial effect of November to May on these experimental parameters in caprine species in particular and livestock species in general. The aim of the study is good; but the studied parameters were not sufficient to prove the effect of season on the reproductive parameters in caprine species. Moreover, there are many reports available on this topic in the literatures. The research work is not a complete one and lacking in many aspects.

However, the present study may be considered after answering of all the following queries and re-assessing the experimental parameters.

Ø  You have measured these experimental parameters in different months/seasons. Therefore, you have to mention the temperature humidity index, rainfall, photoperiod, wind velocity, solar radiation, etc. for the experimental station.

Ø  You have to analyze the correlation effect between the experimental parameters and meteorological profiles and results need to be placed in a table.

Ø  What is this testicular circumference and how to measure? This is not sufficient to analyse the testicular parameters. You have to measure the scrotal circumference and testicular volume and weight with suitable methods. The parameter such as testicular circumference alone is not sufficient.

Ø  Individual parameter’s measurement procedure need to be described  

Ø  These experimental parameters (body weight, body condition, testicular circumference, odour intensity and sex behaviour) is not sufficient to determine the seasonal effect on reproductive performance. Therefore, you have to measure the endocrinological profiles such as FSH, LH, testosterone, T4, cortisol, prolactin and melatonin in different seasons with different age groups.

Ø  Not only hormone profiles, you have to analyse the stress markers such as antioxidant profiles (total antioxidant capacity, SOD, catalase, GSH, etc.) and oxidative stress profile (Malondialdehyde) to assess the summer/winter stress effect on caprine species.     

Ø  Stress has significant effect on the blood biochemical profiles; therefore, you have to measure the serum biochemical profiles such as AST, ALT, triglycerides, total cholesterol, total protein, and glucose.

Ø  Without study the semen production and its quality parameters, this research work is incomplete one. Therefore, semen production and its quality parameters need to be analysed at different months.

Ø  Further, in-vitro or in-vivo fertility rate in different seasons need to be studied to show the effect of season on fertility rate.

Ø  Analysis of heat stress related genes/proteins in different months/seasons supports the results of the study.    

Ø  Whether these data were presented as standard error and standard deviation; clarify

Ø  The figure is not clear and merge these figure 2 and 3 into one figure.

Ø  The data presented in the manuscript is not sufficient to prove the effect of season on the reproductive parameters in buck. There are many information lacking to prove it. Therefore, it may be recommended to study all the other leftover parameters and incorporate in the manuscript.

Acceptable

Author Response

Point 1: You have measured these experimental parameters in different months/seasons. Therefore, you have to mention the temperature humidity index, rainfall, photoperiod, wind velocity, solar radiation, etc. for the experimental station.

Response 1: Agreed, good suggestion. We added the figure in the General point of materials and methods to identify the temperature and humidity index (THI), the photoperiod and the rainfall throughout the year 2019.

Point 2: You have to analyze the correlation effect between the experimental parameters and meteorological profiles and results need to be placed in a table.

Response 2: The correlation of the climatic and experimental variables was not possible, an apology.

Point 3: What is this testicular circumference and how to measure? This is not sufficient to analyse the testicular parameters. You have to measure the scrotal circumference and testicular volume and weight with suitable methods. The parameter such as testicular circumference alone is not sufficient.

Response 3: The testicular circumference is the same as the scrotal circumference and we measure it with a flexible tape measure graduated in centimeters. In the case of testicular volume and weight, we could not measure it because we did not have the appropriate methods for this purpose. However, these three variables are correlated. In this regard, several works have been published in temperate (Delgadillo et al., 1991, 1992) and subtropical (Delgadillo et al., 1999) regions. In the case of the tropics, because there is no reproductive seasonality, there are no studies in this regard, our study tried to cover that part, however, we found ourselves limited.

Point 4: Individual parameter’s measurement procedure need to be described 

Response 4: The variables evaluated in our study are described in detail in section 2.3. Management and Measuring of Males, not all the classical parameters measured in regions where males have sexual rest were measured. The present study was carried out in the tropical region where there is no sexual rest due to the photoperiod, but this decrease in sexual behavior is attributed to the quantity and availability of food, as well as to environmental temperature.

Point 5: These experimental parameters (body weight, body condition, testicular circumference, odour intensity and sex behaviour) is not sufficient to determine the seasonal effect on reproductive performance. Therefore, you have to measure the endocrinological profiles such as FSH, LH, testosterone, T4, cortisol, prolactin and melatonin in different seasons with different age groups.

Response 5: Indeed, these variables are not enough to measure reproductive seasonality, but we only evaluate annual sexual behavior since in tropical regions there is no seasonality in sheep and goats but sexual behavior varies throughout the year due to other modulating factors such as nutrition and environmental temperature. Due to the above, we found one of the observations made to us by adding the THI interesting. On the other hand, we wanted to measure hormonal profiles and other determinations where it will be ensured that these changes in sexual behavior, weight, body condition and odor depended on it. However, this work was not financed and we carried it out with our own resources, which is difficult for all these determinations, I know that it is not justification, but we rely on works in the literature to carry out some measurements in animals that denote the influence of factors modulators of these parameters.

Point 6: Not only hormone profiles, you have to analyse the stress markers such as antioxidant profiles (total antioxidant capacity, SOD, catalase, GSH, etc.) and oxidative stress profile (Malondialdehyde) to assess the summer/winter stress effect on caprine species.    

Response 6: I appreciate such interesting recommendations that we can take into account for future research since we are also dedicated to evaluating heat stress in the species. It is clear that you have a lot of experience in research in the area, I appreciate you sharing that experience with us regarding this topic.

Point 7: Stress has significant effect on the blood biochemical profiles; therefore, you have to measure the serum biochemical profiles such as AST, ALT, triglycerides, total cholesterol, total protein, and glucose.

Response 7: Regarding these observations, if we are taking them into account for the work on heat stress, we already have some works sent. Thank you very much for the recommendations.

Point 8: Without study the semen production and its quality parameters, this research work is incomplete one. Therefore, semen production and its quality parameters need to be analysed at different months.

Response 8: Totally agree, that it is related to the plasmatic profiles of testosterone that in the works carried out in temperate and subtropical regions, there is no lack of work. In our case, we lacked financial resources, but if we take into account that the testicular circumference or scrotal circumference, as well as the male's odor, are related to testosterone profiles. It was difficult for us to measure sperm quality because we did not have the space and equipment for these determinations. I fully agree that it is necessary to measure all these variables to confirm the proper display of sexual behavior in goats males.

Point 9: Further, in-vitro or in-vivo fertility rate in different seasons need to be studied to show the effect of season on fertility rate.

Response 9: Ok, thank you for your recommendations.

Point 10: Analysis of heat stress related genes/proteins in different months/seasons supports the results of the study.   

Response 10: In fact, our work is not on heat stress, but it is clear that it influences our evaluation and some work needs to be done in this regard.

Point 11: Whether these data were presented as standard error and standard deviation; clarify

Response 11: Our results are presented in means and standard error of the mean, which is clarified in the legends of the figures (marked in red in the manuscript).

Point 12: The figure is not clear and merge these figure 2 and 3 into one figure.

Two figures are merged into 1, a single axis of the "Y" with their respective graduations, the axis of the "X) both figures retain the same graduations of the months of the year.

Point 13: The data presented in the manuscript is not sufficient to prove the effect of season on the reproductive parameters in buck. There are many information lacking to prove it. Therefore, it may be recommended to study all the other leftover parameters and incorporate in the manuscript.

Response 13: This last recommendation encompasses all of the above. Our study did not receive funding of any kind, the expenses that were generated were on the part of the author, as refuted in previous questions, economic resources are needed for hormonal determinations. What, if taken into account, for example, testosterone profiles are related to male sexual behavior, testicular or scrotal circumference and odor. Same phenomenon with sperm quantity and quality. The above observed in research work of this type where males do present reproductive seasonality as it is in temperate and subtropical regions, which in our case is tropical that has no seasonality due to the effect of the photoperiod, only changes in sexual behavior modulated by other factors. nutrition and environmental temperature.

Reviewer 2 Report

ARTICLE 2407939

The manuscript prepared by José Luis Ponce-Covarrubias  et al., presents the

 annual sexual behavior in Boer Bucks located in the Guerrero tropics in Mexico.

 Body weight (BW), body condition (BC), testicular circumference (TC), odor intensity (OI) and SB (nudging, ano-genital sniffing, flehmen, mounting attempts, mounts with intromission, and self-urination) were recorded.

The authors concluded that during the months in which there is greater availability of forage as a consequence of the rainy season the SB, TC, OI, BW and BC increase.

Specific comments:

1.     Material and method:

Line 70: “The study was carried out in a period from January 1 to December 31, 2019”

Line 155 and 156: “Sexual behavior (SB) of male goats is displayed throughout the year. The unfilled geometric figures indicate the variables with the highest SB (November to May; spring - winter)”  May in next year?

Please change the description as the observations were conducted during 2019 year. The same error is repeated throughout the text. It is better to list the months.

Author Response

1. Material and method:

Point 1: Line 70: “The study was carried out in a period from January 1 to December 31, 2019”

Response 1: The experiment lasted 1 year, which ran from January 1 to December 31, 2019.

Point 2: Line 155 and 156: “Sexual behavior (SB) of male goats is displayed throughout the year. The unfilled geometric figures indicate the variables with the highest SB (November to May; spring - winter)”  May in next year?

Response 2: It is May of that same year, it is from November to May, it is said that way because you cannot say from January to November because from June to October sexual behavior decreases.

Point 3: Please change the description as the observations were conducted during 2019 year. The same error is repeated throughout the text. It is better to list the months.

Response 3: I don't understand.

Reviewer 3 Report

The manuscript “Annual Sexual Behavior in Boer Bucks located in the Guerrero Tropics in Mexico” analyzes not only the sexual behavior of bucks but also testicular circumference, body weight, and body condition, among other parameters. The research is interesting and gives some insights into the reproductive activity of Mexican goats. However, some improvements are necessary. 

The introduction needs some work; some sentences are not well structured, making it difficult to grasp the idea the author wanted to transmit; I would recommend a review of written English in this section.

Some mistakes in materials and methods need to be corrected:

L85: the first sentence is not a material or method; this would be better placed and explained in the introduction as a justification of the study.

L94: methods for measuring SB and OI are mixed, correct.

L107: Rephrase, maybe “Male goats SB was evaluated during one year”

L114: Replace “y” for “and”

Table 1: improve the presentation, it is hard to know where the description of one behavior ends, and the next one starts; maybe leave some space in between. Review “true riding”, maybe “true mounting”.

The results are well presented with nice figures.

Regarding the discussion, the paragraph found in L209-215 needs to be rewritten to make it more comprehensible; also, consider adding references to support it.

L237: change “effect for “fact”

The conclusion needs to be rewritten; it states that SB, TC, and OI were higher from November to May, contrary to the data shown in the results, which say that TC and OI increased from October to December. It needs to be clarified. 

The manuscript could benefit from a review of written English, especially the introduction.

Author Response

Point 1: The introduction needs some work; some sentences are not well structured, making it difficult to grasp the idea the author wanted to transmit; I would recommend a review of written English in this section.

Response 1: Okay, thank you very much.

Some mistakes in materials and methods need to be corrected:

Point 2: L85: the first sentence is not a material or method; this would be better placed and explained in the introduction as a justification of the study.

Response 1: An apology, we differ from your appreciation, we previously discussed that part and thinking about that we wrote it from the objective, but they did not suggest adding it in the first part of materials and methods.

Point 2: L94: methods for measuring SB and OI are mixed, correct.

Response 2: It's right.

Point 3: L107: Rephrase, maybe “Male goats SB was evaluated during one year”

Response 3: In accordance with their recommendation the change was applied in the manuscript.

Point 4: L114: Replace “y” for “and”

Response 4: We apologize, we cannot replace the "y" with "and" because it refers to the author's last name. García y González et al. [24]

Point 5: Table 1: improve the presentation, it is hard to know where the description of one behavior ends, and the next one starts; maybe leave some space in between. Review “true riding”, maybe “true mounting”.

Response 5: Revised and suggestion accepted was applied to the manuscript, thank you very much.

Point 6: The results are well presented with nice figures.

Response 6: Thank you so much.

Point 7: Regarding the discussion, the paragraph found in L209-215 needs to be rewritten to make it more comprehensible; also, consider adding references to support it.

Response 7: Okay, the wording was changed to make it more understandable to the reader, it was applied to the manuscript. The support with citations is not necessary since it is a conclusion of that part, obviously based on what exists in the literature on the matter.

Point 8: L237: change “effect for “fact”

Response 8: Change accepted and applied in the manuscript, thank you very much.

Point 9: The conclusion needs to be rewritten; it states that SB, TC, and OI were higher from November to May, contrary to the data shown in the results, which say that TC and OI increased from October to December. It needs to be clarified. 

Response 9: Okay, rewrote and applied in the manuscript. Thank you so much.

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

The manuscript has been corrected upto mark. Therefore, the manuscript may be accepted.