Kudu late calving in the Eastern Cape

WRudman · Feb 14, 2016

It has come to my attention that the kudu on my ranch are late in calving this year. What I am used to is that they normally start calving in the middle of December, with a peak in January that tapers off in the middle of February. We did a test in January and February, by shooting two adult females. Both were pregnant and by the size of the foetus, we determined that they would only start calving in March, which is very late. This is going to have an impact on our local venison hunting and culling schedule as well as the rut for this year. I am interested to know if any other ranchers are experiencing the same late calving anomaly. We had abnormal rainfall last winter and a very hot dry summer, with daytime temperatures sometimes hitting 45 degrees Celsius. Thankfully the winter rains have carried us well, as there is for the time being still food.

KAROO WILD Safaris · Feb 15, 2016

Hi Warren

I've found the same here with us over the last few years. Even had some calve as late as June. It doesn't appear to effect the start of the mating season however. I hunted almost every day in mating season and observed that the rut started normally around 1o April but appeared to last longer than before. It's something we need to be aware of and perhaps push for a later general hunting season.

CAustin · Feb 15, 2016

Is there a reason behind this?

siml · Feb 15, 2016

Glad to hear your kudu are at least pregnant. I have seen the same thing with our guinea fowl populations, just starting to hatch, where it should have happened in December. @CAustin , usually has to do with the climate, rains came late, incredible how nature predicts these scenarios.

WRudman · Feb 16, 2016

Karoo Wild said:
Hi Warren

I've found the same here with us over the last few years. Even had some calve as late as June. It doesn't appear to effect the start of the mating season however. I hunted almost every day in mating season and observed that the rut started normally around 1o April but appeared to last longer than before. It's something we need to be aware of and perhaps push for a later general hunting season.

Hi Victor
What do your neighbours say, do they also have a late calving cycle? I spoke to Kelvin this morning, he is busy hunting at present, they saw their first calf today, probably born yesterday. I think it is a good idea to inform the agricultural union to approach nature conservation for a later hunting season. Otherwise a lot of females will be shot with calves at too early a weaning age. At present I don't have any calves, but a good percentage of the females are carrying.

WRudman · Feb 16, 2016

CAustin said:
Is there a reason behind this?

Its amazing how wild animals can predict how the different weather patterns can affect them at a later stage.

CAustin · Feb 16, 2016

Yes sir Rhinoster if that's what is causing it.....down right spooky.

KAROO WILD Safaris · Feb 16, 2016

Rhinoster Hoek Safaris said:
Hi Victor
What do your neighbours say, do they also have a late calving cycle? I spoke to Kelvin this morning, he is busy hunting at present, they saw their first calf today, probably born yesterday. I think it is a good idea to inform the agricultural union to approach nature conservation for a later hunting season. Otherwise a lot of females will be shot with calves at too early a weaning age. At present I don't have any calves, but a good percentage of the females are carrying.

Most have been observing the same pattern. Will bring it up at the next meeting as a point to put forward to Nature Con. They had a bulls only policy for the first month of the season but the second month is still too early to cull cows.

lcq · Feb 16, 2016

Rhinoster Hoek Safaris said:
Its amazing how wild animals can predict how the different weather patterns can affect them at a later stage.

should get them forecasting the weather instead of those clown scientists whose record is pathetic

siml · Feb 16, 2016

Warren, I can remember reading about kudu being able to hold in a calf for a longer gesistiation period, in times of drought. I can't remember all the facts.

dobber · Feb 17, 2016

wild animals sure can tell you a lot about what they do, always use nature to let me know how things are going to be, normally not wrong either
going to watch this thread to see how things work out, and now i have to google gestation periods for Kudu's to see what else i can learn

siml · Feb 17, 2016

@dobber , thanks for clearing up spelling on gestation.....man I just couldn't get it right this morning..240 days roughly 8 months.

Waterguy631 · Feb 17, 2016

I leave for my hunt the end of March beginning of April will this affect my hunt much.

siml · Feb 17, 2016

If you trophy hunting, it won't be a problem. But Warren and Victor will know better, that's their areas.

dobber · Feb 17, 2016

Just to be clear Simon, i used Google lol

WRudman · Feb 17, 2016

TMS said:
Warren, I can remember reading about kudu being able to hold in a calf for a longer gesistiation period, in times of drought. I can't remember all the facts.

Simon, I have heard it been said, but have never experienced it. The growth of the foetus must be retarded in some manner. Those that I opened were small. Strange though, the condition of the females are good, not fat, but healthy.

WRudman · Feb 17, 2016

Waterguy631 said:
I leave for my hunt the end of March beginning of April will this affect my hunt much.

You guys wont have a problem, there are still plenty bulls around.

WRudman · Mar 21, 2016

Update on the calving. Since the beginning of March, we have found a few calves running around, but still the majority has to calf.
Found this old cow caught in the fence this morning. Had to put her out as she had hurt her hind leg. We cut her open and saw she was close to calving. The old ones are taking the strain of the drought

dobber · Mar 21, 2016

Glad you found her and put her down, being caught up in a fence is a long slow death

BRICKBURN · Mar 21, 2016

I have never seen teeth worn that badly.
She has done you well to have lasted that long.

Hope the grass greens up with some rain sooner than later.

Kudu late calving in the Eastern Cape

WRudman

KAROO WILD Safaris

CAustin

siml

WRudman

WRudman

CAustin

KAROO WILD Safaris

lcq

siml

dobber

siml

Waterguy631

siml

dobber

WRudman

WRudman

WRudman

dobber

BRICKBURN

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