ANTIFERTILITY ACTION OF TWO SYNTHETIC PROGESTINS IN FEMALE WHITE-TAILED DEER'

Two synthetic progestins, MGA and DRC 6246, were fed prior to or for a short time during the breeding season in three different feeding regimes to female white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virgin- ianus). Both compounds were well accepted orally, but they did not prevent or delay conception or inter- fere with pregnancy. No differences (P > 0.05) were recorded in conception dates or number of fawns among treatment groups. These data support the hypothesis that exogenously administered progestins are not accumulated in sufficient quantities in the body fat to provide prolonged hormonal storage from which target organs are supplied.