@conference {41130,
	title = {Monitoring oestrus and ovulation in brushtail possums},
	booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	volume = {59},
	year = {1999},
	month = {Jan},
	pages = {236-238},
	publisher = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	organization = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	abstract = {The time of ovulation following removal of pouch young (RPY) was determined in 240 possums by repeated laparoscopic
observation of the ovaries, and in a subset of these animals (n=20) also from changes in vaginal mucus.  In a separate experiment (n=18), the time of oestrus was estimated from an influx of epithelial cells and leucocytes in urine, and confirmed by mating and hormonal data. A preovulatory follicle was observed at laparoscopy in all animals that ovulated (n=138), but not in any that did not (n=102).  An influx of neutrophils in vaginal mucus occurred in 12/20 possums, including 4 that failed to ovulate.  An increase in epithelial cells in urine was observed in 9/12 possums that exhibited an LH surge.  However, this change occurred after the time of the preovulatory LH surge in 6 of those animals and peak cell numbers varied widely between all animals. These studies confirm that although changes in the cell content of mucus and urine can retrospectively define stage of the oestrous cycle, they are of little value for predicting impending oestrus, the LH surge or ovulation},
	issn = {1176-5283},
	author = {McLeod BJ and Thompson EG and Crawford JL and Mahoney PM and Eckery D}
}
@conference {41128,
	title = {Synchrony of onset and cessation of breeding activity in brushtail possums (Trichosurus vulpecula) in coastal Otago, New Zealand},
	booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	volume = {59},
	year = {1999},
	month = {Jan},
	pages = {229-232},
	publisher = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	organization = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	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. },
	issn = {1176-5283},
	author = {McLeod BJ and Thompson EG and Crawford JL}
}
