Non-invasive measurement of progesterone and cortisol metabolites in the faeces of captive female Rusa unicolor at Zoo Negara, Malaysia and its reproductive and stress behaviour

Noor Haida Abdul Hamid and Mohd Noor Hisham Mohd Nadzir and Junaidi Omar and Geetha Annavi and Wan Nor Fitri Wan Jaafar and Annas Salleh. (2022) Non-invasive measurement of progesterone and cortisol metabolites in the faeces of captive female Rusa unicolor at Zoo Negara, Malaysia and its reproductive and stress behaviour. Pertanika Journal of Science & Technology (Malaysia), 30 (2). pp. 1583-1599. ISSN 2231-8526

Sambar deer are listed as vulnerable and are bred in captivity under governmental management. The success of captive breeding programs varies, and the underlying causes are unclear. The advantage of using non-invasive faecal samples to obtain hormonal profiles without the animal being sedated or restrained has not been tested in sambar deer. This experiment was aimed to study the reproductive and stress behaviours of sambar deer and to measure the levels of reproductive and stress hormones in captive female sambar deer via a non-invasive procedure using faeces samples. Data on reproductive and stress behaviour were collected from six sambar deer for six months. Behaviours were recorded by instantaneous sampling method using direct observation. The reproductive and stress hormones in faecal samples were analysed using ELISA procedures. There are differences in frequency of certain reproductive behaviours recorded within different sessions of data collections while stress behaviour was in the low count and no huge difference in frequency between different sessions. Progesterone metabolites showed some trend of high concentrations in July and started to drop at the end of July till the end of December with constantly negative concentrations. Sambar deer in Zoo Negara can be considered not in stress due to low reading of cortisol concentration even though there was a presence of visitors. In future, it is important to make sure the faecal samples for hormonal analysis are collected daily to look for the pattern of the oestrus cycle in sambar deer.

Full text available from: Official URL: http://www.pertanika.upm.edu.my/resources/files/Pe...

Abstract

Sambar deer are listed as vulnerable and are bred in captivity under governmental management. The success of captive breeding programs varies, and the underlying causes are unclear. The advantage of using non-invasive faecal samples to obtain hormonal profiles without the animal being sedated or restrained has not been tested in sambar deer. This experiment was aimed to study the reproductive and stress behaviours of sambar deer and to measure the levels of reproductive and stress hormones in captive female sambar deer via a non-invasive procedure using faeces samples. Data on reproductive and stress behaviour were collected from six sambar deer for six months. Behaviours were recorded by instantaneous sampling method using direct observation. The reproductive and stress hormones in faecal samples were analysed using ELISA procedures. There are differences in frequency of certain reproductive behaviours recorded within different sessions of data collections while stress behaviour was in the low count and no huge difference in frequency between different sessions. Progesterone metabolites showed some trend of high concentrations in July and started to drop at the end of July till the end of December with constantly negative concentrations. Sambar deer in Zoo Negara can be considered not in stress due to low reading of cortisol concentration even though there was a presence of visitors. In future, it is important to make sure the faecal samples for hormonal analysis are collected daily to look for the pattern of the oestrus cycle in sambar deer.

[error in script]

Item Type:	Article
AGROVOC Term:	deer
AGROVOC Term:	captive breeding
AGROVOC Term:	zoos
AGROVOC Term:	reproductive behaviour
AGROVOC Term:	biological sampling
AGROVOC Term:	progesterone
AGROVOC Term:	hydrocortisone
AGROVOC Term:	statistical methods
AGROVOC Term:	habitat suitability
Geographical Term:	Malaysia
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Captive, frequency, non-invasive, reproductive, session, stress
Depositing User:	Ms. Azariah Hashim
Date Deposited:	12 Nov 2024 04:10
Last Modified:	12 Nov 2024 04:10
URI:	http://webagris.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/1767

Actions (login required)

View Item