Reproduction of Domesticated Collared Peccary (Tayassu tajacu) in Brazil

Abstract

Dometic and wild collared peccaries or javelinas were bred at an experimental animal station of Mossoro Agricultural University in Brazil. Each group was composed of three males and six females and maintained in a compartment of 12m × 10m. Three groups of domestic and three groups of wild peccaries were maintained in a complex of six compartments. Three males in a group shared six females. When an additional female was introduced to a given group, she was eliminated as an invader. When a male died, all females were replaced with other six females. An estrous cycle was approximately 24 days and estrus lasted about four days. Breeding can occur throughout the year. The gestation period was about 145 days. Usually one offspring each time and occasionally two might be obtained. Offsprings were separated from their mother after four to five days of birth.