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Seasonal reproduction in the European badger in SW England
Journal
Journal of Zoology
Volume 233 Issue 1,Pages69-91 Published Online: 14May2009
Authors
R. J. C. Page 1 , J. Ross 1 and S. D. Langton 1 1
Central Science Laboratory, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries & Food,
Tangley Place, Worplesdon, Guildford, Surrey GU3 3LQ
Abstract
The reproductive cycle of male and female badgers in
the south-west of England was studied by post-mortem examination of 1875
badgers collected in 1973–80. The sample was obtained by several methods
and showed that animals obtained as road casualties were not
representative of the total population samples. Active spermatogenesis was
present throughout the year, and in some males aged 8–9 months. A few
females first ovulated as yearlings but most primiparous females were
adults. Births were in general confined to the early part of the year, but
ovulations and matings also occurred at other times. Almost all (97%)
adult females possessed corpora lutea. Unimplanted blastocysts were found
in females for 11 months of the year (over 80% of adult females in
July-November). Implanted embryos were found in only 32% of adults in
January and February: the number of blastocysts per female and the number
of implanted embryos per female were not significantly different,
indicating that sows implanted all blastocysts or none. Foetal mortality
was 36% and post-natal losses were estimated at 42% from the proportion of
lactating females.
Keywords
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