title: The reproductive performance of female Formosan sambar deer (Cervus unicolor swinhoei) in semi-domesticated herds.
abstract: This study documented the reproductive performance of 210 adult female Formosan sambar deer (FSD, Cervus unicolor swinhoei) from four semi-domesticated deer herds in Taiwan. An extensive analysis of 525 reproductive records from 2000 to 2008, including the conditions of estrus, gestation, and parturition was conducted. The mean+/-S.E.M. lengths of the estrous cycle, gestation, and fawning interval were 18.2+/-0.5d (n=56), 258.6+/-0.3d (n=160), and 369.9+/-2.3d (n=122), respectively. Hand breeding was performed between June and December (n=494), with the majority (93.1%) occurring between July and October (P<0.05). Fawning occurred from February to September (n=318), and most frequently (83.0%) between April and June (P<0.05). Pregnancy rate per mating in FSD hinds was 64.4%. There was a 1.3:1 male-to-female ratio at birth (P<0.05) among 320 fawns, and only two cases of twinning (0.63%). The postnatal mortality rate was 6.6% (21/320), and the mortality rate in fawns before weaning did not exceed 8% on any farm. Fecundity was enhanced by high pregnancy rates and high offspring survival rates. This study provides baseline information on reproductive performance of FSD, which should be valuable to veterinarians and deer industry personnel for management of FSD on farms in subtropical countries.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, 250 Kuo-Kuang Rd., Taichung 40227, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Jacky Peng-Wen
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Han-Ying
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Chih-Feng
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Kwong-Chung
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Tung
authors.forename: Chao-Chin
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Chang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003670:Deer / Q000502:physiology*; D030762:Estrous Cycle / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D036801:Parturition; D011247:Pregnancy; D012621:Seasons