Sex- and Age-Related Morphological Characteristics of European Elk (Alces alces) Pelves

Abstract

There is no data in the literature concerning the frequency of birthing difficulties in the elk cow. This study aims to describe the pelves of elk cows and adult bulls. The measurements of an elk pelvis depend on living conditions rather than age. The dimensions of primiparous pelves are more homogeneous than those of pluriparous cows because heifers have to reach a certain weight prior to successful conception. The elk pelvis has a rather slim shape; the cavum pelvis is deep, oval lengthwise in the median plane, and narrows in the caudal direction. Primiparous and pluriparous cows were significantly different regarding the following measurements: the lengths of the diameter conjugata, the diameter transversa and the caudal transverse and the area of the aperturae pelvis. The pelvic cavity of bulls is longer and narrower in comparison with that of cows, and the areas of the pelvic apertures are smaller. A rapid delivery of the foetus is facilitated by the following factors: a uniform diameter and an appropriate angle of inclination of the bony birth canal, relative mobility of the articulatio sacroiliaca, a concave pelvic surface of the os sacrum, a slow ossification of the symphysis pelvina and the degeneration of the tuberculum pubicum dorsale. In order to differentiate between elks pelves by sex and age, the measurements of the aperturae pelvis and their ratios, the surface area of the symphysis pelvina and the pecten ossis pubis, and the position of the eminentiae iliopubicae and os interischiadicum should be recorded and analysed.

Morphological Characteristics of Pelves of Estonian Holstein and Estonian Native Breed Cows from the Perspective of Calving

“…A comparison of the pelvic measurements of the EN cows and the respective parameters of multiparous elk cows shows that the pelvic configuration of the EN cow is similar to that of the elk (Nahkur et al., 2003). Despite the difference in the appearance of the pelves, the correlation coefficients of the internal measurements were not statistically significantly different – the pelvic cavities and the cranial apertures were longitudinally oval in both (Nahkur et al., 2011). The pelvis of an elk is well adapted to calving; in wild animals, disproportions are eliminated by natural selection.…”

A three‐dimensional pelvimetric assessment on pelvic cavity of gazelle (Gazella subgutturosa) by computed tomography

“…(2017) on sheep and human pelvis, they determined that the conjugate diameter was 89 mm and vertical diameter was 65 mm. Nahkur, Ernits, Andrianov, Jalakas, and Järv (2014) reported in their study conducted with moose ( Alces alces ) that conjugate diameter was 210.8 ± 1.10 mm in females and 201.6 ± 0.97 mm in males. In the present study, it was determined that the conjugate diameter of gazelles was 69.26 mm in females and 57.76 in males; vertical diameter was 66.87 mm in females and 55.64 mm in males and incline of the pelvis was 26.61° in females and 25.47° in males.…”