Freemartinism in red deer (&lt;i&gt;Cervus elaphus&lt;/i&gt; L.)

Stewart-Scott, I. A.; Pearce, P. D.; Moore, G. H.; Fennessy, P. F.

doi:10.1159/000132955

Cited by 6 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 2 publications

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“…The incidence of freemartinism may also be an important consideration; in this respect two of the females from sets of unlike-sex twins examined for karyotype from the present study were freemartins (Stewart-Scott, Pearce, Moore and Fennessy, 1989). However, the difference in birth weights appears to be larger than that recorded for other species.…”

Section: Generalmentioning

confidence: 57%

Hormonal induction of twinning in farmed red deer (Cervus elaphus): comparative mortality and growth of twins and singles to weaning

Fennessy¹,

Moore²,

Littlejohn³

1990

Anim. Sci.

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Multiple births were induced in 20 hinds subjected to a progesterone plus gonadotropin treatment to advance the breeding season by about 4 to 5 weeks. In total, over 2 years, 92 hinds were treated and run with melatonin-treated stags. Of the 59 hinds that calved to the induced oestrus, 39 produced single calves, 19 produced twins and one produced triplets. Birth weight, gestation length, perinatal mortality and growth rate to weaning at ca. 20 weeks of age were compared for singles and twins. There was a significant effect of birth type on birth weight with twins being proportionately 0·30 lighter than singles (6·27 and 8-94 kg; P < 0·001), with a significant interaction between the birth weight of a calf and the sex of its co-twin (P < 0·05); males born as co-twins to females were proportionately 0·18 heavier than their co-twin females (P < 0·06), while in contrast twin male sets were substantially lighter than twin female sets. Gestation lengths were similar for both singles and twins, with significant negative relationships between gestation length and birth weight for both singles and twins, with a 2-day decrease in gestation length for a 1-kg increase in mean birth weight. There was a strong quadratic relationship between perinatal survival and birth weight; the expected mortality rates at 5, 8 and 11 kg birth weight derived from the relationship were 0·39, 0·11 and 0·39 respectively, indicating reduced probability of survival at both low and high birth weights. The regression relationships between weaning weight or growth rate to weaning and birth weight indicate that at the same birth weight, twin-reared calves were about 5 kg lighter than singles at 20 weeks, while an extra 1 kg weight at birth was associated with an extra 2 kg weight at 20 weeks.

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Section: Generalmentioning

confidence: 57%

Hormonal induction of twinning in farmed red deer (Cervus elaphus): comparative mortality and growth of twins and singles to weaning

Fennessy¹,

Moore²,

Littlejohn³

1990

Anim. Sci.

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“…In contrast, freemartinism occurs when there is vascularization of the placentae of heterosexual twins and blood is shared between twins, leading to XX/XY chimerism and often masculinization and sterility of the female twin's reproductive tract (Padula 2005). Freemartinism has been most commonly reported in Domestic Cattle (Bos taurus), but has also been documented in cervid species, including Red Deer that were treated with progesterone to induce twinning (Stewart-Scott et al 1990).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, it has been documented in closely related Red Deer that were treated with progesterone and gonadotrophin, which increased twinning. Of the eight sets of twins produced, two female XX/XY chimeras were observed that were both sterile (Stewart-Scott et al 1990). In wild Elk, twinning rates are very low (<1%) making freemartinism unlikely (Hudson et al 2002).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Potential case of pseudo-hermaphroditism in Elk (<i>Cervus canadensis</i>) in Alberta, Canada

et al. 2020

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Cases of true and pseudo-hermaphroditism, in which animals possess both ovaries and testes or have a single chromosomal and gonadal sex but secondary features of the other sex, have been documented in several cervids, including Odocoileus (deer) and Capreolus (roe deer) species. Another form of intersexuality that has been well documented in Domestic Cattle (Bos taurus) and induced in Red Deer (Cervus elaphus) is freemartinism, where blood is shared between heterosexual twins leading to XX/XY chimeras. We report the first case of pseudo-hermaphroditism in wild Elk (Cervus canadensis), observed in the central east slopes of the Rocky Mountains of Alberta, Canada, from September through December 2019. The Elk had no antlers, exhibited female external genitalia, and displayed male secondary sexual characteristics, including colouring and breeding behaviour. To determine whether this is a case of true hermaphroditism, pseudo-hermaphroditism, or freemartinism would require blood analysis and inspection of internal sex organs by necropsy.

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The timing of melatonin treatment affects the seasonal onset of ovarian activity, coat growth and live weight in young red deer hinds

Fisher¹,

Fennessy²,

Johnstone³

1990

Animal Reproduction Science

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Freemartinism in red deer (<i>Cervus elaphus</i> L.)

Cited by 6 publications

References 2 publications

Hormonal induction of twinning in farmed red deer (Cervus elaphus): comparative mortality and growth of twins and singles to weaning

Hormonal induction of twinning in farmed red deer (Cervus elaphus): comparative mortality and growth of twins and singles to weaning

Potential case of pseudo-hermaphroditism in Elk (<i>Cervus canadensis</i>) in Alberta, Canada

The timing of melatonin treatment affects the seasonal onset of ovarian activity, coat growth and live weight in young red deer hinds

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