The capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris Linnaeus, 1766) is a wild rodent of great eco- nomic 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 reproduc- tion 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 Parana, belonging to the National Institute for Agricultural Technology (INTA; Cam- pana, 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, 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 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 tem- porary 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 repro- ductive parameters provide the necessary conditions to obtain economical profit of captive-bred capybaras. breeding management / capybara / captivity / production / reproduction
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