| Issue |
Anim. Res.
Volume 55, Number 2, March-April 2006
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Page(s) | 153 - 164 | |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1051/animres:2006005 | |
| Published online | 27 April 2006 | |
DOI: 10.1051/animres:2006005
Reproductive performance of capybaras (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) in captivity under different management systems in Argentina
Martin R. Alvareza and Fernando O. Kravetza, ba Departamento de Ecología, Genética y Evolución, Facultad de Cs. Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
b in memoriam
(Received 18 February 2005 - Accepted 13 December 2005 ; published online 27 April 2006)
Abstract - The capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris Linnaeus, 1766) is a wild rodent of great economic interest
and is easily domesticated. Variations in reproductive parameters for the
capybaras depend on both intrinsic and extrinsic factors, which modulate the
different stages of its reproduction either in captivity or wildlife. In
captivity, an intensive production system is feasible, offering an
economical profit under certain reproductive conditions. This work evaluates
the reproductive performance of capybaras under different management systems
in captivity, interpreting the results biologically and giving management
guidelines to optimize their intensive production. The study was carried out
at the Capybara Breeding Station, located in the Agricultural Experimental
Station "Delta del Paraná", belonging to the National Institute for
Agricultural Technology (INTA; Campana, province of Buenos Aires, Argentina;
34°08'S; 58°12'W), from August 1997 to December 1998. Three
different management systems were tested: System I "Isolated pens" (IP), composed of three different
types of outdoor enclosures for "reproduction", "maternity" and
"growth". System II "Isolated females" (IM), formed by a central enclosure ("reproduction pen"),
communicating with 12 paddocks ("maternity pen") and "growth pens".
System III "Mixed pens" (MP), an enclosure of 35 
10-m divided in "reproduction area" and
"maternity pens"; the offspring were moved to "growth pens" elsewhere. A temporary weaning technique was tested for the "mixed pens" system. The variables analyzed for all systems were litter size at
birth and at weaning, nursing and interbirth periods, and survival rates (at
birth, weaning and total). The reproductive efficiency of each adult female
was calculated as the total number of individuals weaned alive in a one-year
period. During the study, 348 young were born in 104 births, from a total of
59 adult females. We conclude that the system that performs the best for
capybara reproduction is the "mixed pens" system, including temporary
weaning. Under this management strategy the following parameters were
registered: mean litter size of 3.8 newborn per birth; 85% of live
offspring at weaning; two births per year per female; all resulting in a
reproductive efficiency of 6.5 young weaned alive per year female.
These reproductive parameters provide the necessary conditions to obtain
economical profit of captive-bred capybaras.
Key words: breeding management / capybara / captivity / production / reproduction
Mots clés : systèmes d'élevage / cabiaï / captivité / production / reproduction
© INRA, EDP Sciences 2006