Đặc điểm sinh sản của nhím Bờm (Hystrix brachyura subcristata_Swinhoe) trong điều kiện nuôi nhốt tại tỉnh Tuyên Quang
The study was conducted at Tan Dat Cooperative, Vi Xuyen commune, Tuyen Quang province, from October 2024 to December 2025 to determine the reproductive characteristics of female Bom porcupines (Hystrix brachyura subcristata_Swinhoe) in captivity. Ten female porcupines aged 8 to 9 months with a weight of 9.78 kg/head were kept in separate cages measuring 1.2m × 1.2m × 1.2m (length × width × height). Food included corn kernels, seasonal fruits, vegetables and beef bones. They were fed twice daily, at 8:00 and 16:30. The Bom porcupine cages were cleaned daily at 16:00. The results showed: age of first estrus 284.90 days, estrus cycle 33.47 days, estrus cycle length 3.57 days, age of first conception 337.70 days, pregnancy lasted for 92.10 days, time to estrus again after giving birth 33.05 days, litter interval 132.73 days. Litter size varied from 1 to 3, of which single births accounted for 23.81%, twins accounted for 47.62% and triplets accounted for 28.57%; the number of newborns was 2.05 pups/litter and the number of live newborns was 1.90 pups/litter; the birth weight reached 0.67 kg/litter, equivalent to 0.35 kg/pup. Early detection of estrus and mating of female porcupines resulted in a high conception rate, but mating on the second day of the estrus cycle tended to result in a higher number of triplets. However, further research is needed to confirm these results.
