Wj. Mcshea et al., THE EFFECT OF IMMUNOCONTRACEPTION ON THE BEHAVIOR AND REPRODUCTION OFWHITE-TAILED DEER, The Journal of wildlife management, 61(2), 1997, pp. 560-569
Behavioral and reproductive consequences of porcine zona pellucida (PZ
P) immunocontraception were examined in a herd of white-tailed deer (O
docoileus virginianus; n = 30) from September 1992 to September 1994.
Does were captured from a wild population and placed within either of
2 large (32-ha total) wooded enclosures. Does were administered either
: (1) a single injection containing PZP-emulsified in Freund's complet
e adjuvent (FCA) and microsphere-encapsulated PZP; (2) 2 injections of
PZP-emulsified in FCA and Freund's incomplete adjuvant (FIA), 4 weeks
apart: or (3) no treatment. Mature, spermic bucks (n = 5) were added
to each pasture 1 weeks after the final PZP treatment. and reproductiv
e behaviors and fawn production were observed for 2 years. Immunocontr
acepted females exhibited increased activity compared to non-treated f
emales, presumably reflecting an increased number of estrus intervals.
Similarly, enclosure bucks exhibited an extended breeding season comp
ared to males in the surrounding wild population. The 2-injection PZP
regimen provided effective contraception during both years of the stud
y. The 1-injection PZP regime provided effective contraception only du
ring the second year, following administration of a PZP booster. Histo
logical evaluations of ovaries failed to reveal among-group difference
s in ovarian architecture. Contracepted-nonpregnant does gained signif
icantly more weight than control females during the study.