Young elands have a strong tendency to associate in peer groups of their own. There are distinct breeding seasons in some areas. There is normally a single calf. Sexual maturity is usually attained at about 3 years by females and 4 years by males. Elands have disappeared from large parts of their range, mainly because of excessive hunting by people.
Elands yield a large quantity of tender meat, and the quality of the thick hide is excellent.
These animals are docile and easily tamed, and efforts have been made in Africa and the Soviet Union to domesticate them for meat and milk production.