In contrast, females and young had a dry season range of 26.1 sq km in brush country and then made extensive movements into open grassland during the wet season, so that their year-round range averaged 222.0 sq km. There is much overlap of home range and evidently no exclusive use of space. Herds there usually consisted of fewer than 25 individuals, including a number of cows and subadults and 1 or more large bulls. Apparently the larger groups, commonly with more than 100 members, were basically temporary aggregations of females and calves that formed during the wet season in open grassland. No enduring social bonds were observed other than between mothers and nursing young, and individuals moved freely in and out of groups.
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.