title: Reproductive performance of captive collared peccaries (Tayassu tajacu) in the eastern Amazon.
abstract: This study analyses reproductive parameters resulting from 74 parturitions in a population of captive collared peccaries in the eastern Amazon (Belém, State of Pará, Brazil) during a 65-month survey. Parturitions were homogeneously distributed throughout the year. The average litter size was 1.85 newborns per parturition. Collared peccary females had a newborn sex ratio of 52.6% females and 47.4% males. The mean age at first parturition was 639, although, the earliest first parturition occurred at age of 381 days. Estimated parturition-conception interval was 58 days. Mean farrowing interval was 196 days and mean production was 1.03 litters and 1.86 newborns per year per female. Mortality rate in newborns less than 2 months old was 26.9% of the total newborn population. Most identified causes of death were abandonment by the mother (22.2%) and trauma due to aggression (13.9%). Newborn deaths occurred mainly during the first two days of life. This study suggests that the collared peccary possesses interesting reproductive parameters for its introduction in captive breeding programmes in the Amazon region.
authors.affiliation: Departament de Sanitat i d'Anatomia Animals, Facultat de Veterinària, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Edifici V, E-08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain. pedrogines.mayor@uab.es
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mayor
authors.forename: Diva Anelie
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Guimarães
authors.forename: Yvonnick
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Le Pendu
authors.forename: Jurupytan Viana
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Da Silva
authors.forename: Ferran
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Jori
authors.forename: Manel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: López-Béjar
mesh_terms: D000822:Animal Husbandry; D000818:Animals; D001188:Artiodactyla / Q000502:physiology*; D001938:Brazil; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D012098:Reproduction / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014329:Tropical Climate