The gestation length of wapiti (Cervus elaphus) revisited

As an ancillary activity to an artificial insemination program in fanned wa piti, the length of gestation of 28 wapiti hinds that delivered single calv es of established parentage was calculated. Estrus was synchronized in 47 w apiti using progesterone impregnated devices (controlled internal drug rele ase, CIDR) and an injection of PMSG. All hinds were artificially inseminate d between 60 and 63 h after CIDR removal. Pregnancy was determined between 45 and 65 days by ultrasound. h verifiable figure for gestation length was obtained based both upon timed-artificial insemination, date of parturition , and confirmation of sire identity through microsatellite DNA technology. The calculated gestational length of 247 +/- 5 days was significantly (P < 0.0001) shorter than the generally quoted figure of 255 +/- 7 days. (C) 200 1 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.