Abstract

The onset of breeding was monitored in 117 female brushtail possums trapped at a single location between December and May, with reproductive status being determined at the time of capture. The cessation of breeding activity was monitored in captive animals in which reproductive status was determined in October (N=38), November (N=39) and January (N=30), by laparoscopic observation of their reproductive tracts. Comparison was made between animals that had pouch young removed (RPY) 7-9 days previously, and possums that had not had pouch young present for at least 40 days. Only 1/57 possums trapped over the period from 1 December to 31 March had recently bred. In contrast, 49/60 (82%) possums captured between 1 April and 6 May, were either pregnant or had new-born pouch young. In spring (mid-October) 45% of possums continued to cycle, only 13% were cycling in late November and all were anoestrous in January. There were no relationships between liveweight or RPY and reproductive status.

BJ, McLeod, EG Thompson, and JL Crawford

Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production, Volume 59, , 229-232, 1999