breeding cycle
nounUK /ˈbriː.dɪŋ ˈsaɪ.kəl/
US /ˈbriː.dɪŋ ˈsaɪ.kəl/
The pattern of time when animals have babies and raise them.
The breeding cycle of these birds begins in early spring.
OTHER MEANINGS
2. The repeating series of stages in which an organism produces offspring.
Scientists studied the breeding cycle of the frogs in the pond.
3. The seasonal period during which a species mates and reproduces.
During the breeding cycle, the males become very territorial.
4. The full sequence of events from mating to the raising of young.
The zoo monitors each animal's breeding cycle closely.