Reproduction in Domestic Animals

Reprod Dom Anim 43 (Suppl. 2), 66–73 (2008); doi: 10.1111/j.1439-0531.2008.01144.xISSN 0936-6768Captive Breeding of Cheetahs in South Africa – 30 Years of Data from the de WildtCheetah and Wildlife CentreHJ Bertschinger 1 , DGA Meltzer 2 and A van Dyk 31 Section of Reproduction, Department of Production Animal Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa;2 Emeritus Prof., Brooklyn, Pretoria, Gauteng Province, South Africa; 3 de Wildt Cheetah and Wildlife Trust, de Wildt, North West Province, SouthAfricaContentsThe de Wildt Cheetah and Wildlife Centre was established in1971 and the first cheetah cubs were born in 1975. During theperiod 1975–2005, 242 litters were born with a total of 785cubs. Mean cub survival from 1 to 12 months and greater than12 months of age was 71.3 and 66.2%, respectively. Themajority of losses (84.9%) occurred during the first monthpostpartum whereas only 15.1% deaths took place between 1and 12 months of age. Females were first bred at an age ofapproximately 3 years, reached maximum reproductive age at6–8 years, where after fertility declined. Males reached peakreproduction at 6 and maintained this for up to 12 years ofage. Male fertility was best correlated with sperm morphology.During recent years, for practical purposes, males wereallocated to ‘good’ (‡70% normal), ‘fair’ (40–70% normal)and ‘poor’ (