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© 2019 Conscientia Beam. All Rights Reserved. 

 
EFFECTS OF SEGREGATED EARLY WEANING AT 7 DAYS ON DAMS’ BODY 
CONDITION, PARTURITION INTERVAL AND OFFSPRING BIRTH WEIGHT AND 
LITTER SIZE IN THE AGOUTI (Dasyprocta Leporina) FOR INTENSIVE PRODUCTION   

 

 

 Riyadh 
Mohammed1+ 

 Kavita Kemeela 
Sant2 
Gary Wayne Garcia3 

 

1,2,3University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago. 

 

 
(+ Corresponding author) 

 ABSTRACT 
 
Article History 
Received: 13 June 2019 
Revised: 19 July 2019 
Accepted: 26 August 2019 
Published: 10 October 2019 
 

Keywords 
Sex ratio 
Growth rate 
Average daily gain 
Successive parturition 
Offspring 
Reproduction.  

 
There has been limited information reported on the impacts of segregated early 
weaning on agouti (Dasyprocta leporina) dams. The study lasted 485 days where 4 
parturitions were recorded from 12 (2 year old) multiparous dams, hence there were 48 
(12 x 4) parturitions in total with 100 offspring being born. Data was collected on 1) 
the live weight gain of dams (+/- g), 2) re-conception time and parturition interval 
(through theoretical calculations assuming that the gestation period was 104 days), 3) 
litter size at each parturition 4) weight of each individual offspring born per litter as a 
% of dams’ live weight and 5) the ratio of offspring sex at each parturition. Results 
showed that dams can reconceive and have a successive parturition as early as 119 days 
after the day of her previous parturition. Average live weight gain after 4 consecutive 
parturitions for dams were 276g. Average offspring weights increased by 
approximately 23 g (193 g to 216g) after 4 parturitions when weaned at 7 days. 
Average litter size per dam increased by 33% (1.75 to 2.33) after 4 parturitions when 
weaned at 7 days. Litter size as a percentage of dam’s body weight increased by 0.11% 
(5.47 to 5.58) after 4 parturitions when weaned at 7 days. This study concludes that 
weaning at 7 days post-partum is very beneficial for dams’ body condition and re 
conception, offspring growth and development and for continuous reproduction in an 
intensive production unit. 
 

Contribution/Originality: This study is one of very few studies which have investigated the impacts of 

segregated early weaning on agouti (Dasyprocta leporina). Weaning at 7 days post-partum is very beneficial for 

dams’ body condition and re conception, offspring growth and development and for continuous reproduction in an 

intensive production unit. 

 

1. INTRODUCTION 

Gestation periods for the Agouti were recorded to be from as early as 97 days [1] to 104 days [2] to 105 days 

[3] to 104- 120 days [4-6]. The length of the oestrus cycle was 34 +/- 2.1 days with a range of 12-59 days Weir 

[7]. Weir [4] also stated that agouti female ovulation may be spontaneous and that postpartum estrus may exist. 

In an experiment with 18 agouti females, Guimarães, et al. [8] found that the estrus cycle (proestrus, estrus, 

metestrus and diestrus) was 32.05 +/- 4.17 days (25 to 40 days) with an estrus period of 24 hours. Singh, et al. [9] 

reported an oestrus cycle of 31 days (+/- 4 days) with 17 days (+/- 2 days) being estrus using the vaginal cytology 

Animal Review 
2019 Vol. 6, No. 2, pp. 24-31 
ISSN(e): 2409-6490 
ISSN(p): 2412-3382 
DOI: 10.18488/journal.ar.2019.62.24.31 
© 2019 Conscientia Beam. All Rights Reserved. 

 
 
 

 
 
 

 

 
 
 
 

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9639-1397
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5055-1965
https://www.doi.org/10.18488/journal.ar.2019.62.24.31


Animal Review, 2019, 6(2): 24-31 

 

 
25 

© 2019 Conscientia Beam. All Rights Reserved. 

method of detection. Guimarães, et al. [10] reported postpartum estrus to be 12.04 days (7-24 days). The length of 

time between parturitions were 126.03 days (109-184 days) in the study carried out by Guimarães, et al. [10]. 

During the postpartum estrus period, 80.95% of copulations (from 18 females) were fertile and ended in successful 

pregnancy Guimarães, et al. [10]. Korz [11] reported that 2-3 parturitions per year is possible with the Agouti. 

Brown-Uddenberg [12] reported new born agouti females weighing between 210g-355g while male offspring 

weighed 225g- 308g. At 8 weeks of age, female offspring weighed 1088.9g- 1306.6 g and males at 8 weeks old were 

723.5g- 1298.8g Brown-Uddenberg [12]; Brown-Uddenberg, et al. [13]. Asibey [1] suggested a weaning age of 8 

weeks old while Smythe [14] recommended 12 weeks old. Mohammed [15] reported on 10 dams with 22 offspring 

experiencing weaning periods of 1, 2, 3 and 6 weeks where dams did not re conceive immediately when enduring 

extended weaning periods of 1 week. Mohammed, et al. [16] reported on 80 parturitions where dams lost -1.5 g/d, 

- 1.6 g/d, - 1.6 g/d and – 4.7 g/d after experiencing the weaning periods of 1, 2, 3 and 6 weeks respectively. The 

weaning periods of 1, 2, 3 and 6 weeks were applied and dams had successive parturitions of 15.9, 17.9, 20.4 and 

23.9 weeks Mohammed, et al. [16]. Mohammed, et al. [16] concluded that weaning offspring at 7 days old allowed 

dams to: 

1. Loose less body condition. 

2. Reconceive faster. 

3. Have a shorter parturition interval.  

 

2. METHODOLOGY 

(This methodology was adopted and modified from Mohammed [15]; Mohammed, et al. [16]; Mohammed and 

Garcia [17] (unpublished); Mohammed and Garcia [18] (unpublished)).  

 

2.1. Location, Climate and Time Frame 

The data collection took place at the University of the West Indies Field Station (Intensive Agouti Production 

unit), located at Mt. Hope (Latitude 10.6468 and Longitude -61.4228), Trinidad. The temperatures within the unit 

ranged from 22.40C to 33.50C. The unit was established on July 31st, 1986 and had a total head count of 

approximately 147 Agouti of different physiological states between 2015 to present. The observations were carried 

out from December 2016 to April 2018. 

 

2.2. Animal Housing and Management 

The animals were housed in an intensive type system (similar to the battery cage system of rabbits). Animals 

were housed individually in steel cages (15’’ length, 18’’ width and 15’’ high) and supplied with water and food on a 

daily basis [13]. Pens were cleaned and washed while animals were fed, watered and observed daily.  

 

2.3. Gestation, Parturition and Weighing of Dams 

Data was collected from dams which started by the recognition of pregnancy. This was done by visual 

observation and experience of the technical staff of the unit. Recognition of pregnancy was usually confirmed by an 

increase in abdominal size (round and swings when walking) and the protrusion of teats (8) from the chest to 

abdominal area. When females were observed and confirmed to be pregnant, they were gently isolated and were 

placed into bigger cages (24’’ length, 18’’ width and 15’’ high). A red brick with two distinct holes was placed into 

each pregnant dam’s cage as well as fresh cut forages (grasses and tropical legumes) was used as bedding and for 

inoculation of the gut microflora.  

Pregnant dams were weighed daily (with extreme care) from the day of isolation until the day of parturition 

and 3 parturitions after (during pre-wean and post wean periods). Hence the study has data on 12 (2) year old 

females for 4 parturitions (total 48 parturitions). This experiment lasted approximately 485 days. This detailed 



Animal Review, 2019, 6(2): 24-31 

 

 
26 

© 2019 Conscientia Beam. All Rights Reserved. 

weighing process enabled us to get a long term understanding of how much weight (g) was added by conception 

and pregnancy and how much weight (g) was lost due to parturition and a 7 day weaning period [16]. It was 

confirmed in the study by Mohammed, et al. [16] that weaning at 1 week was beneficial for the 1) good growth of 

offspring 2) earlier time of conception for females and 3) body condition was least affected by the earliest weaning 

period of  week.  

Females were caught using the “bag method” of catching and restraining. This method facilitated that both the 

animal and the handler had a barrier between them for their protection. The bag was folded down to half its length, 

with both hands controlling the entry point. The female was scooped into the bag gently (with experience) and then 

weighed.  

The weighing process was done by taring the bag (app. 102.5g) and then weighing the females individually 

(AMIR Digital Kitchen Scale, 5000g, in increments of 1g). Dams’ weights were recorded and stored on a spread 

sheet from the time of observed pregnancy until 4 parturitions were recorded. Data such as total litter size at 

parturition, individual weight of litter mates and sex within litters were also recorded.   

 

2.4. Pre Parturition Feeding Management  

Dams were fed 1000g of fresh fruit per day, usually the fruit in season or abundance (farm grown). The fruits 

fed were mangoes (Mangifera indica), pumpkin (Cucurbita), cucumbers (Cucumis sativus) and papaya (Carica papaya). 

Tropical forages such as Trichanthera (Trichanthera gigantea) and Leucaena (Leucaena leucocephala) were also fed (no 

more than 50% of the total DM diet). Dams were also allowed 100g of concentrate per day (Ration A 17% Min. CP) 

during the conception and early gestation period. During the gestation period dams were also allowed mineral and 

vitamin supplements twice per week.  

 

2.5. Post Parturition Feeding Management  

Dams were fed 1000g (+ 100g extra per offspring) of fresh fruit per day for the 7 days pre weaning period, 

usually the fruit in season or abundance (farm grown). The fruits fed were mangoes (Mangifera indica), pumpkin 

(Cucurbita), cucumbers (Cucumis sativus) and papaya (Carica papaya). Corn (Zea mays), cassava (Manihot esculenta) and 

coconuts (Cocos nucifera) were added to the post parturition diet. Tropical forages such as Trichanthera 

(Trichanthera gigantea) and Leucaena (Leucaena leucocephala) were also fed but in very limited amounts (<20% of the 

total DM diet). Dams were also allowed 100g of concentrate per day (Ration B 18% Min. CP) during the late 

gestation (3rd trimester) and early parturition (7 days postpartum) period. Dams were also allowed vitamin and 

mineral supplements.  

 

2.6. Analysis of Data 

The data was collected from 12 (2 year) old multiparous dams. The length of the study was approximately 485 

days where 4 parturitions were recorded for each dam. Hence there were 48 parturitions in total with 100 offspring 

being born.  

1. Live weight was judged by weighing animals (g) from a) recognition of pregnancy b) through parturition 

and c) post parturition to conception to successive parturition.  

2. Parturition interval was calculated by the time in days between both parturitions minus the 104 days for 

gestation.  

3. Litter size for 4 parturitions from 12 dams were recorded and compared.   

4. Average offspring birth weight and total litter weight were recorded and compared.  

5. Sex ratio within each litter born per parturition were recorded and compared.  

 

 



Animal Review, 2019, 6(2): 24-31 

 

 
27 

© 2019 Conscientia Beam. All Rights Reserved. 

3. RESULTS  

 
Table-1. Average amount of days to conception after 7 day weaning for 4 consecutive parturitions. 

Dam ID Days to 1st part Days from p1 to p2 Days from p2 to p 3 Days from p3 to p 4 

1 123 123 120 115 
2 122 118 111 113 

3 123 120 118 111 
4 121 122 125 109 

5 126 124 116 110 

6 111 110 121 116 
7 122 120 118 114 

8 119 120 121 113 
9 115 120 121 114 

10 122 116 110 119 
11 109 110 109 115 

12 117 113 109 109 
Average days/part. 119 118 117 113 

St. dev. 5.18 4.77 5.52 3.01 
St.err 1.50 1.38 1.59 0.87 

Assumed gestation 104 104 104 104 
Days postpartum 15.2 14 12.6 9.17 

Weaning @ 7 days 7 7 7 7 
Days to conceive 8.17 7.00 5.58 2.17 

 

 

Table-2. Final body condition of dams after 4 parturitions with a 7 day weaning period. 

Dam ID P 1 (g) P 2 (g) P 3 (g) P 4 (g) After 4 part. (g) Post: Body cond. (g) 

1 3301 3399 3504 3566 3443 265 
2 3104 3213 3335 3397 3262 293 
3 2857 2949 3060 3122 2997 265 
4 2906 3015 3117 3179 3054 273 
5 3034 3123 3235 3297 3172 263 
6 3222 3322 3422 3484 3363 262 
7 3043 3138 3238 3300 3180 257 

8 2933 3037 3159 3221 3088 288 
9 2948 3057 3169 3231 3101 283 
10 2778 2874 3007 3069 2932 291 
11 3044 3168 3279 3341 3208 297 
12 3205 3286 3419 3481 3348 276 

Average wt. 
of dams 3031 3132 3245 3307 3179 276 
Std. dev. 157 156 153 153 155 13.9 
Std. err 45.4 45 44.3 44.3 44.7 4.01 

 

 

Table-3. Average individual birth weight for all 4 parturitions with a 7 day weaning period. 

Dam ID Ind. off  (g) wt p1 Ind. off  (g) wt p2 Ind. off  (g) wt p3 Ind. off  (g) wt p4 

1 208 217 225 230 
2 197 207 216 221 
3 184 192 201 205 
4 186 196 204 209 
5 193 202 210 215 
6 204 213 221 226 
7 194 202 211 215 
8 188 197 206 211 
9 189 198 207 212 

10 179 188 198 203 
11 194 204 213 218 
12 203 211 221 225 

Avg. 
Offspring wt. 

193 202 211 216 

Std.dev. 8.60 8.59 8.52 8.55 
Std.err 2.48 2.48 2.46 2.47 

 



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28 

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Table-4. Average litter size over the 4 parturitions with a 7 day weaning period. 

Dam ID Litter size p1 Litter size p2 Litter size p3 Litter size p4 Avg. lit size/dam 

1 2 2 2 3 2.25 
2 1 2 2 3 2 
3 2 2 2 2 2 
4 3 2 1 2 2 
5 2 2 3 2 2.25 
6 1 2 2 3 2 
7 2 1 2 1 1.5 
8 1 2 2 2 1.75 
9 2 2 3 3 2.5 
10 2 3 2 2 2.25 
11 2 2 2 3 2.25 

12 1 3 3 2 2.25 
Avg. Lt. size 1.75 2.08 2.17 2.33 2.08 

Std. dev. 0.62 0.51 0.58 0.65 0.59 
Std. err 0.18 0.15 0.17 0.19 0.17 

 

 

4. DISCUSSION  

Table 1 showed that weaning at 7 days [16] had a positive impact on the length of time it takes for dams to 

give birth and reconceive for a successive parturition. Intervals ranged from as long as 119 days to as short as 113 

days ([10] reported 126.03 days). Hence it is possible to get 3 parturitions per year (113 x 3= 339 days) while 

enforcing  the 7 day weaning period as a reproductive management tool. Using a gestation period of 104 days, 

theoretically the days “open” ranged from 9 to 15 days ([10] reported postpartum estrus of 12.04 days). Having 

offspring for 7 days (pre weaning period) of the open period, dams (12) had short intervals to conceive, which 

ranged from 2.17 to 8.17 days. Table 2 showed that dams increased their live body weight from parturition to 

parturition and had a final total gain of approximately 276g after 4 parturitions. As concluded from Mohammed, et 

al. [16], dams lost body condition (from 1.5g to 4.7 g per parturition) after enduring weaning periods of over 7 

days. Weaning period length, lactation performance and litter size had severe impacts on dams’ body condition 

[16].  

Table 4 showed that average litter size increased from 1.75 offspring/dam to 2.33 offspring/dam., which was a 

33.14% increase in litter size per dam. Mohammed, et al. [16] found the average litter size per dam was 1.7 

offspring per litter (136 offspring/ 80 parturitions). Table 5 showed the average offspring weight as a percentage of 

dam’s normal live weight increased from 5.47 % to 5.58 %. Mohammed et al 2018 reported offspring birth weight as 

a percentage of dam’s normal weight to be 5.35%. Table 3 showed that average offspring birth weight increased 

from 193g to 216g, which was an 11.72 % increase in average birth weight resulting in heavier offspring. Table 6 

showed male to female ratios from 66.6% M: 33.3% F in parturition (1) to 50 % M: 50% F in parturition 4 which 

indicated an increase in the number of females being born. Table 7 showed an increase in triple born litters being 

8.33% (1 of 12) of the total births in parturition (1) to 41.66 % (5 of 12) of the total births in parturition 4.  

 

5. CONCLUSION 

Weaning at 7 days allowed dams to:  

1. Reconceive in a shorter period. 

2. Allow 3 parturitions per year. 

3. Loose less body condition postpartum. 

4. Have larger litter sizes. 

5. Have more females being born than male offspring per litter. 

6. To have heavier offspring at birth.  



Animal Review, 2019, 6(2): 24-31 

 

 
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© 2019 Conscientia Beam. All Rights Reserved. 

Table-5. Average litter weight at birth as a percentage (%) of the dams’ live weight over 4 parturitions. 

Dam ID 
Parturition 
1 weights 

Total litter 
wt @ p1 

Parturition 
2 weights 

Total litter wt 
@ p2 

Parturition 
3 weights 

Total litter 
wt @ p3 

Parturition 
4 weights 

Total litter 
wt @ p4 

1 3801 416 3936 434 4053 451 4126 691 
2 3604 197 3750 413 3884 432 3957 662 
3 3357 367 3486 384 3609 401 3682 411 
4 3406 559 3552 391 3666 204 3739 417 
5 3534 387 3660 403 3784 631 3857 430 
6 3722 204 3859 425 3971 442 4044 677 
7 3543 388 3675 202 3787 421 3860 215 
8 3433 188 3574 394 3708 412 3781 422 

9 3448 377 3594 396 3718 620 3791 635 
10 3278 359 3411 564 3556 395 3629 405 
11 3544 388 3705 408 3828 426 3901 653 
12 3705 203 3823 632 3968 662 4041 451 

Individual lt. size as a % MBW  5.47  5.51  5.56  5.58 

 



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© 2019 Conscientia Beam. All Rights Reserved. 

Table-6. Sex ratio of offspring at birth for all 4 parturitions. 

Dam ID Litter size p1 Litter size p2 Litter size p3 Litter size p4 

1 2 2 2 3 
2 1 2 2 3 

3 2 2 2 2 
4 3 2 1 2 

5 2 2 3 2 

6 1 2 2 3 
7 2 1 2 1 

8 1 2 2 2 
9 2 2 3 3 

10 2 3 2 2 
11 2 2 2 3 

12 1 3 3 2 
Total offspring 21 25 26 28 

Males 14 14 13 13 
Females 7 11 13 15 

% Females 33 44 50 50 
 

 

Table-7. Birth type of offspring over 4 parturitions 

Litter sizes Birth type of p1 Birth type of p2 Birth type of p3 Birth type of p4 

Single 4 1 1 1 
Twins 7 9 8 6 

Triplets 1 2 3 5 
Total litters 12 12 12 12 

% Single 33% 8% 8% 8% 
% Double 58% 75% 67% 50% 

% Triple 8% 17% 25% 42% 
Total offspring 21 25 26 28 

 

 

6. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FUTURE WORK  

1) Measuring the rate of growth (by sex and litter size) of offspring until adulthood (360 days) by allometric 

measurements using Gompertz, Logistic and von Bertanlaffy equations.  

2) Creating a diet for each physiological state (focusing on dams and offspring) of the production cycle.  

3) Defining the age at slaughter, dressing percentage and carcass quality of male agouti.  

4) Re-defining target performance coefficients for intensive production and creating new criteria for 

phenotypic selection for intensive breeding.  

 

Funding: This study received no specific financial support.    
Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests.  
Contributors/Acknowledgement: Authors would like to thank the staff of the Department of Food 
Production in the Faculty of Agriculture at the University of the West Indies for their support and 
encouragement. They would also like to thank the staff at the Agouti unit of the University Field Station for 
their assistance in keen animal management practices and great considerations for animal welfare. 

 

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