Pregnancy and ovulation detection in bison (Bison bison) assessed by means of urinary and fecal steroids

J Wildl Dis. 1992 Oct;28(4):590-7. doi: 10.7589/0090-3558-28.4.590.

Abstract

Sexually mature bison (Bison bison) cows were tested for both pregnancy and ovulation by means of urinary steroid metabolites and fecal steroids. The accuracy of pregnancy diagnosis was determined among 18 bison cows, in approximately the third month of gestation, by means of urinary pregnanediol-3 delta-glucuronide (PdG), urinary estrone conjugates (E1C), and fecal total estrogens (TE). Urinary PdG was 100% accurate, urinary E1C was 89% accurate, and fecal TE was 100% accurate in predicting pregnancy. Fecal progesterone (P4) and TE, as well as urinary E1C and PdG concentrations all increased from conception (August) through January, but significant differences were not apparent until November. During the rutting season ovulation was detected by increases in either urinary PdG or fecal P4 concentrations. Both pregnancy and ovulation were detected in uncaptured bison with reasonable accuracy by means of urinary and fecal steroids or their metabolites.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bison / physiology*
  • Bison / urine
  • Estrogens / analysis
  • Estrogens / urine
  • Estrone / urine
  • Feces / chemistry*
  • Female
  • Ovulation / physiology
  • Ovulation / urine
  • Ovulation Detection / veterinary*
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Tests / veterinary*
  • Pregnancy, Animal / physiology
  • Pregnancy, Animal / urine*
  • Pregnanediol / analogs & derivatives
  • Pregnanediol / urine
  • Progesterone / analysis
  • Steroids / analysis*
  • Steroids / urine

Substances

  • Estrogens
  • Steroids
  • pregnanediol-3 delta-glucuronide
  • Estrone
  • Progesterone
  • Pregnanediol