Oestrous cycles and the breeding season of the Pere David's deer hind (Elaphurus davidianus)

Abstract

Summary. Reproductive cycles were studied in a group of tame P\l=e`\reDavid's deer hinds. The non-pregnant hind is seasonally polyoestrous and, in animals studied over 2 years, the breeding season began in early August (2 August \ m=+-\ 3\m=.\3days; s.e.m., N = 9) and ended in mid-December (18 December \m=+-\5\m=.\7 days; N = 8) and early January (6 January \ m=+-\3\m=.\2days; N = 11) in consecutive years. During the anoestrous period, plasma progesterone concentrations were low (0\m=.\2\ m=+-\ 0\m=.\01 ng/ml) or non-detectable. During the breeding season, experiments were conducted to investigate synchronization of oestrus with exogenous progestagens. Oestrus occurred 32\p=n-\90h after progestagen removal. The changes in plasma progesterone concentrations which followed oestrus were similar to those seen after natural oestrus.

Plasma concentrations of progesterone, oestradiol, LH and 15-ketodihydro-PGF2 in Norwegian semi-domestic reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus) during their first reproductive season

“…In these studies, the reproductive seasons in reindeer and caribou were found to be 132 and 150 days, respectively. The present result is also in accordance with those reported in various species of deer in which the cyclic production of progesterone lasts for 4-5 months (Asher, 1985;Curlewis et al, 1988;Knox et al, 1988). (Daupiné, 1978) and reindeer (Ropstad et al, 1991 …”

“…The fact that females used in this study were all young (1.5 years old) may have contributed to this, although body masses were higher than usual for pubertal animals under field conditions. Another important factor is the stress associated with bringing nearly wild animals together in a limited area for research purposes (Curlewis et al, 1988).…”

The reproductive biology of female Père David's deer (Elaphurus davidianus)

“…Using weekly blood progesterone determinations, Curlewis et a1 [ 19881 determined that nonbreeding hinds cycle for a period of 5 to 6 months. A growing body of data shows that female cervids are polyestrus over a period that is considerably longer than the birth season [Guinness et al, 1971;Plotka et al, 1977;Curlewis et al, 1988;Wemmer and Grodinsky, 19881. Sadleir [ 19871 reviewed the literature on birth synchrony and showed that a majority of births in six species of northern deer fell within a 3-week period or less.…”

Avaliação de dois métodos para condicionamento e coleta de sêmen em quatro espécies do gênero Mazama

“…As amostras de urina foram fracionada em alíquotas de 4mL, armazenadas em freezer a -20°C e estocadas nesta mes-ma temperatura até a sua posterior utilização na segunda técnica (MUFE). Após a detecção do estro, realizada por pressão exercida na região pélvica (Curlewis et al 1988), a fêmea e o macho foram colocados em baias diferentes, uma em frente à outra, e as portas foram abertas. Durante o tempo de contato entre eles foi observado o comportamento do macho quanto ao tempo de interesse e aproximação até a fêmea, reϐlexo de "Flehmen", ato de cheirar ou lamber, exposição do pênis, ereção, número de falsas montas, tentativa de cópula, ocorrência de agressividade entre os animais, tempo de coleta e volume de sêmen obtido.…”