Puberty: Acquisition of Ovulatory Capacity

Puberty means acquisition of reproductive capacity (ovulation), and its outcome depends on age, environmental, nutritional, and genetic factors. The comfort of herds is important in this context, as they collectively trigger the cessation of the existing hypothalamic blocking characteristic of the prepubertal period, which is related to ovarian function. Many explanations of this have arisen from research findings and relevant ones are presented in this chapter. Processes are illustrated and some possible interactive mechanisms are outlined.