Abstract
Wild boars shot in a hunting area in Baden-Wurttemberg during three consecutive years (148 males, 205 females) were analysed for insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-I) concentrations in blood plasma. Gonadal steroids were determined either in blood plasma (females, progesterone) or adipose tissue (males, androstenone). The age (estimated by the dental pattern) and the carcass weight were recorded. From 159 out of the 353 animals, the stomach content was analysed for total energy and digestibility. Sex differences in carcass weight were only significant in animals above the age of 14 months. Carcass weight was significantly correlated with IGF-I in males but not in females. IGF-I revealed a sex-specific seasonal pattern (maximum concentrations in males, June; in females, October). Additionally, as indicated by analyses of the stomach content, the digestibility of the food had affected IGF-I concentrations. Gonadal steroids revealed the well-known seasonal pattern described in other studies and did not point to a more aseasonal pattern of reproduction when energy supply is artificially increased by baiting.
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