Out-of-season breeding of captive white-tailed deer

Although techniques to induce out-of-season breeding in deer with exogenous hormones are documented, a successful technique has not been developed for use with white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus). The efficacy of using a combined treatment of melatonin, progesterone, and pregnant mare serum g onadotropin to advance seasonal estrus in captive white-tailed deer was tes ted. First estrus of 12 treated does (n = 16) occurred at least 57 days soo ner than did those of 4 non-treated controls (mid-November). Previous estru s dates were known for 11 does, suggesting that their estrus was advanced b y 37 to 119 days ((X) over bar = 82 days). At first estrus, 12 does were br ed to untreated bucks that had velvet-covered or recently polished antlers, resulting in a conception rate of 75%. Two does conceived when bred at sec ond or third estrus. Two does failed to conceive when bred at first estrus and displayed no estrous cycling that year, but conceived out-of-season in subsequent years. These data document that this technique is useful for ind ucing successful, out-of-season breeding of captive white-tailed deer. Furt hermore, we demonstrate that some bucks at our facility have adequate ferti lity and libido to impregnate does during midsummer. (C) 2000 by Elsevier S cience Inc.