Reproductive Performance in Capture‐Acclimated Female Rhesus Monkeys (Macaca mulatta)

Abstract

Behavioral and physiological data were collected over a three‐year period on a colony of compound‐housed rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta ) to examine endocrine influences on sexual behavior. The reproductive performance of the experimental animals was compared to controls which were not routinely handled. The groups did not differ significantly with regard to the percentage of conceptions or other parameters of reproductive biology. The demonstration that manipulations attendant to data collection did not jeopardize reproductive success has important implications for research on primate colonies which are maintained primarily for breeding purposes. Additionally, female copulatory behavior was found to be a reliable indicator of ovulation which allows for an accurate prediction of the parturition date.