SUCKLING AND ALLOSUCKLING IN CAPTIVE FALLOW DEER (DAMA-DAMA, CERVIDAE)

Suckling and allosuckling were studied in relation to the age and sex of fawns in a captive population of fallow deer (Dama dama) showing a high rare of allosuckling (73% of the suckling bouts). No difference o ccurred between the sexes in either the duration or frequency of suckl ing and allosuckling. The frequency of suckling bouts decreased rapidl y during the first four weeks of life while the frequency of allosuckl ing bouts increased rapidly between the second and the third week and remained constant until the conclusion of the observations (11th week of life). Birth date affected allosuckling, with late-born fawns perfo rming Fewer and shorter allosuckling bouts. The lack of a negative rel ationship between suckling and allosuckling frequencies failed to conf irm the hypothesis that allosuckling allows fawns to complete their mi lk requirements on foster mothers. Both inbreeding and crowding could explain the absence of particular relationship between fawns and foste r mothers.