Reproduction of cervids

Abstract

The main characteristics of reproduction of cervids are reviewed in this paper and the effect of environmental factors are described. Under mid and high latitudes and for cervids originating from these latitudes, there is a clear cut seasonal pattern in reproductive activity of both males and females with a high degree of svnchrony between both sexes. These seasonal patterns are kept when animals are moved to lower latitudes. Births always occur by the end of spring and the beginning of summer. According to the length of pregnancy (200 to 290 days) of the different species presented in this review, seasons of mating vary from summer to the beginning of winter but always occur at the same time for a given species. Photoperiod appears to be the main drive for sexual activity as demonstrated at least for red deer. It is possible to advance the onset of the breeding season by different treatments (male effect, progestagen and melatonin treatments) at least in red and fallow deers but the efficiency of these treatments is limited to the 2 months preceeding the onset of the natural breeding season. Under low latitudes and for animals originating from these latitudes, births can be observed all year round. This even distribution of births seems to be maintained when animals are moved to higher latitudes.