Which mating system involves females and males cohabiting year-round?

The mating system where females and males cohabitate year-round is referred to as pen mating. This system typically occurs in a controlled environment such as a pen or enclosure where selected males and females are kept together continuously. This allows for natural mating behaviors to occur without the need for human intervention for each mating event.

In pen mating, the advantages include more natural social interactions, reduced stress for the animals, and an increased likelihood of successful breeding, as the animals can choose their mates based on natural selection cues. This system is often used in livestock production, enabling producers to maintain herd health and observe animal behavior over longer periods.

Other mating systems often involve more controlled and limited interactions between animals. Hand mating, for instance, entails human intervention where specific mating pairs are brought together, while stud mating typically refers to breeding practices where selected males are used to mate with multiple females but not necessarily housed together year-round. Free mating may imply a less controlled environment, but it doesn't specifically denote cohabitation for an extended period like pen mating does.