Determination of time of conception of fallow deer in a Hungarian free range habitat

Abstract

Abstract. Our research examined the time of conception of fallow deer in the DALERD South Plains Forestry Private Limited Company's Gyulai Forestry Area. We collected data from pregnant females who had been shot in the hunting season. At the time of evisceration the uterus was removed and dissected; and sex and body weight of embryos were recorded. We were able to collect and analyze 149 samples for our study. Based on the sex and body weight of embryos, we calculated the fertilization date for each animal within our sample group. There were no significant statistical differences found between mean fertilization dates of adult does and yearlings (t = -0.72, p = 0.47). The mean fertilization date of does (with a gestation period of 231.5 days) was October 25 th (SD = 13.82, n = 120); whereas, for yearlings this date was October 24 th (SD = 12.97; n = 29). Based on embryonic development, results showed that in the population we examined, 2 % of females were impregnated in December, 1.3 % in September (at the end of September), 24.2 % in November and the majority, 72.5 % were fertilized in October.

“Move or Not to Move”—Red Deer Stags Movement Activity during the Rut

“…This relationship applies to the entire gestation period until parturition [ 48 ]. This relationship was also demonstrated for several deer species, including wapiti ( Cervus canadensis ) [ 49 , 50 ], fallow deer [ 51 ], sika deer ( Cervus nippon yesoensis ) [ 52 ], and red deer [ 50 , 53 , 54 ]. To estimate the pace of development, the gestation period of red deer was taken from the scientific references as 235 days according to the most often cited data.…”

First Results on the Presence of Mycotoxins in the Liver of Pregnant Fallow Deer (Dama dama) Hinds and Fetuses

“…Analyses were performed on liver samples from 70 fallow hinds and 72 fetuses, as two hinds had twins. The ages of the fetuses were classified into three groups-1: one-month-old, 2: two-months-old, 3: three-months old-based on body weight and length according to the methods developed for Hungarian fallow deer populations [37,38]. The sample sizes may differ in the analyses because of inappropriate or missing liver samples.…”