Nutrition During Gestation in Relation to Successful Reproduction in Elk
Thorne ET, Dean RE, Hepworth WG. 1976. Nutrition During Gestation in Relation to Successful Reproduction in Elk. The Journal of Wildlife Management. 40(2):330-335
The effects of weight loss during gestation on reproduction in mature cow elk (Cervus canadensis) were examined. Seven different groups of elk involving 46 cows and 36 of their calves were studied. The results indicated that weight lost during pregnancy was significantly (P < 0.01) and directly correlated to calf weights at birth and at 4 weeks of age, and to the calf growth rates through the 4th week. Elk calves that weighed more than 16 kg at birth had a 90 percent chance of surviving to 4 weeks of age under captive conditions, whereas those weighing less than 11.4 kg had less than a 50 percent chance of survival. The data indicated that cow elk that lost more than 3 percent of their body weight between January and just prior to calving did not produce 16-kg calves. When the weight of the fetus and fetal fluids and membranes just prior to parturition was subtracted from the body weight of the cow (approximately 12 percent), the total weight loss was 15 percent. Free-ranging pregnant elk required an estimated 22.7 g/kg body weight of good quality feed daily for maintenance.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Thorne, E; Dean, Ron; Hepworth, William
- Units
- GRTE
- Keywords
- Elk, gestation, Weight