PREGNANCY RATE AND NUMBER OF FETUSES OF WHITE-TAILED DEER RELATED TO BODY MEASUREMENTS AND SERUM METABOLITES /Tasa de preñez y número de fetos del venado cola blanca relacionados con medidas corporales y metabolitos séricos

• Published in: Acta biológica colombiana 2024-01, Vol.29 (1), p.86
• Main Authors: Rodríguez-Huerta, Francisco A, García, José E, Angel-García, Oscar, Contreras, Viridiana, Mellado, Jesús, Muñoz, Juan Manuel Guillén, Cavazos, Eloy Alejandro Lozano, Mellado, Miguel
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0120-548X
• DOI: 10.15446/abc.v29n1.104978

This study aimed to assess the association between fertility and the number of fetuses of free-ranging concentrate-supplemented white-tailed deer ((Odocoileus virginianus, texanus, Mearns 1898) from northern Mexico (27°N) with body measurements and serum metabolites indicative of nutritional status. We studied 119 female deer (31 yearlings and 88 adults) captured in January 2021 using a net gun fired from a helicopter. Ultrasound scanning showed 100 and 97.8 % pregnancy rate and 1.52 [+ ó -] 0.51 and 1.50 [+ ó -] 0.59 fetuses/pregnant doe for yearlings and adult does, respectively, with no difference (p > 0.05) between age classes Thoracic circumference (cm) was higher (85.9 [+ ó -] 4.9 vs. 84.1 [+ ó -] 4.2; p = 0.039) for does carrying twins vs. singles. None of the serum metabolites indicative of nutritional status affected the fetal number of pregnant does. It was concluded that free-ranging white-tailed deer receiving concentrate supplementation in winter on a semi-arid rangeland has a high reproductive potential. Also, these results indicate that variation in maternal age within this population was not a significant driver of reproductive metrics of white-tailed deer. The plane of nutrition used in the present study was reflected in adequate serum metabolites indicative of nutritional status. Also, thoracic circumference may have prognostic value as a physical marker of multiple fetuses in female white-tailed deer.