Separation and Independence of Offsprings from the Harem Groups in Misaki Horses

Abstract

1. The present investigation was made to study the behavior and the age of offsprings when they left their native harem groups, and their behavior after the separation in Misaki horses from 1978 to 1983. 2. Almost all offsprings left their native harem groups at the age of 1 to 4 years before they reached the sexual maturity. Some of them left their native harem groups by themselves, but others left with their mothers and subsequently left their mothers by themselves. 3. The age of offsprings at the separation were correlated with the birth of their siblings. Offsprings generally left their native harem groups or their mothers when their siblings were born, while they remained moreover together with their mothers when their siblings were not born or died soon after the birth. 4. Female offsprings generally associated with some of harem groups or any one of young male groups including some geldings after the separation. Therefore, they became permanent members of the particular harem groups within the breeding cycles at the age of 2 to 3 years. Male offsprings joined with any one of young male groups after the separation and changed some of these groups until the sexual maturity at the age of 4 to 5 years. Subsequently, they left those groups to establish their own harem groups.