Title
Use of melengestrol acetate in feed for contraception in herds of captive ungulates
Author(s)
Raphael B.L., Kalk P., Thomas P., Calle P.P., Doherty J.G., Cook R.A.
Published
2003
Publisher
Zoo Biology
Published Version DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/zoo.10096
Abstract
Herds of blackbuck antelope (Antilopa cervicapra) and barasingha (Cervus duvauceli), axis (Cervus axis), sambar (Cervus unicolor), and Formosan sika (Cervus nippon taiwanaus) deer at the Wildlife Conservation Society/Bronx Zoo (WCS/BZ) were fed melengestrol acetate (MGA) at a concentration of 0.000154% in pelleted feed for various periods of times during 1991-2001. The target dose per animal of MGA was 1-2 mg per day. Contraceptive rates during treatment were 100% for blackbuck antelope and barasingha, sambar, and sika deer, and approximately 93% for axis deer. There were no observed adverse effects from MGA treatment on gestation. Post-treatment reproductive rates were lower than pretreatment rates. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Keywords
Animalia; Antilope cervicapra; Cervidae; Cervus; Cervus axis; Cervus duvaucelii; Cervus nippon; Cervus unicolor; Ungulata

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PUB11207