Abstract
There are a number of studies reported in the literature which suggest that in the wild, body size and condition of ♀ ruminants can affect the sex ratio of offspring. The physical condition of a ♀ can be affected by factors such as nutrition, age, stress, population density and social status. This paper describes a preliminary study of sex ratios in the offspring of 17 species/subspecies of ruminant, using data obtained from regional and international stud‐books. The total number of ♂ and ♀ offspring were compared with the expected equal sex ratio via Chi‐square analysis for each species/subspecies. The overall sex ratios of 16 specieshbspecies studied did not significantly differ from50:50, which indicates that any effects of maternal condition may cancel each other out at the population level. Kirk's dikdik Mudoyua kirkii was the only species found to have a skewed sex ratio, with more ♂♂ born than ♀♀. The results of this preliminary study are welcome in light of attempts to maintain genetically viable and demographically stable populations in captivity.
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