Maternal parity affects neonatal survival rate in a colony of captive bred baboons (Papio hamadryas)

BACKGROUND: Non-human primates, particularly baboons, are valuable as animal models for reproductive research, because of their similarity to humans. Knowledge of colony-specific pregnancy and neonatal outcomes is essential for interpretation of such research. METHODS: A retrospective review of the reproductive records of the Australian National Baboon Colony (ANBC) from 1994 to 2006 was performed. RESULTS: The overall live birth rate was over 70% of recognized pregnancies. Pregnancy loss was due to equal proportions of spontaneous abortion and stillbirth, and was not affected by maternal age or parity. Stillbirth rates were increased by the use of animals in novel late pregnancy experimental protocols. Neonatal mortality rates were low overall, but significantly higher in primiparous compared with multiparous mothers (P < 0.05). There were no cases of maternal mortality. CONCLUSIONS: The success of the ANBC breeding programme is demonstrated by the low rate of pregnancy loss, high neonatal survival rate and lack of maternal mortality.