Comparative Study of Fallow Deer (Dama Dama) Reared in Different Habitats (original) (raw)
Related papers
2016
Haematological and biochemical parameters were examined in the blood of 87 cows, bulls and oxen of the indigenous Croatian breed, Istrian cattle. The sample represents 11.93 % of the total adult population. This breed is classified as highly endangered. The age of tested animals was between 2 and 17 years. Cattle were divided into three groups, animals aged 2 to 6 years (n=19), 7 to 10 years (n=37), and older than 10 years (n=31). Animals were kept in the area of Istria County, mostly in stables though occasionally at pasture. The cows were milked twice daily and gave an average of 1 000 litres of milk per year. Erythrocytes, leukocytes, haemoglobin, haematocrit and mean corpuscular volume were determined. Differential analysis was performed by counting blood cells in the blood smear after Pappenheim staining. Biochemical parameters such as total cholesterol, triglycerides, urea, creatinine, total bilirubin, calcium and inorganic phosphorus were determined. The activity of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase was determined by spectrophotometry. These biochemical and haematological parameters of this Istrian breed were within the physiological range, while slight deviations were observed for certain parameters. The greatest deviation from the physiological range was shown in the concentrations of urea and creatinine. These results may contribute to a better understanding of the metabolic profile and haematological indicators for estimating the physiological status of these endangered cattle in Istria, for further investigation and for diagnostic purposes.
Archives Animal Breeding
Yearling red deer (Cervus elaphus) hinds of identical initial body weight were reared on a monocotyledonous grass (group 1) or on a papillonaceous plant pasture (group 2) for 212 days. At the end of the experiment (when deer were shot) blood was taken from ten animals of each group for serum biochemical analysis. Hinds of group 2 provided higher final body weight (90±3.5 vs. 101±6.6 kg) and higher daily body weight gain (105.7±10.7 vs. 153.8±26.8 g/day). Within serum nitrogenous compounds group 2 provided higher total protein concentrations, while from the lipids only serum triglyceride levels were higher in this group. Serum potassium was in both groups higher than the reference range with a superposed slight hyperkalaemia in group 2. Higher lactate dehydrogenase and alkaline phosphatase activities were found in group 2 and lower aspartate aminotransferase activity values. Inorganic phosphate concentration showed a significant difference (group 1 provides higher values). Results refer to an expressed venison growth as a result of the rich dietary protein supply of group 2. Findings were evaluated as well with discriminant factor analysis, outlining the relative importance of the single blood biochemical parameters in shaping the inter-group differences.
Agronomy
Extensive breeding of farmed cervids, similarly to other livestock, affects the vegetation of grasslands in different seasons. For this reason, the impact of the rotational grazing of fallow deer on the chemical and species composition of the pasture sward was assessed, along with the possibility of using these animals for grasslands conservation. The species composition of the pastures was analysed through the botanical-weight method. A quality index and mineral concentration test by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry were used to evaluate the feed. The highest proportion of valuable grasses, such as Dactylis glomerata, Poa pratensis and Lolium perenne, was recorded in the summer pens (65.7–66.1%), while the smallest proportion was recorded in the control area (46.1%). The estimated yield potential was relatively large, from 5.74 to 7.02 t ha−1 dry matter. The lowest total protein content occurred in the control area in the spring and autumn. The summer pens, including th...
Animals
The goal of this study was to examine the seasonal variation in the body composition, carcass composition, and quality of edible internal organs from the fallow deer hunt-harvested in the summer (n = 9) and the winter (n = 10) seasons. The weight and proportion of the mesenteric and omental fat were greater for the animals harvested in the winter (1.12 kg and 2.75%) compared to those from the summer season (0.43 kg and 1.02%). The winter-harvested animals had more perinephric fat (0.75 kg and 1.84%) than those hunted in summer (0.26 kg and 1.84%). The gastrointestinal tract of the fallow deer hunted in summer was more filled with feed and therefore heavier (7.92 kg) compared to those from the winter season (5.16 kg). The proportion of fat was significantly greater in the carcasses obtained in winter compared to the summer season (6.55% vs. 3.79%). No seasonal variety was found in the physicochemical characteristics of the edible offal, but the content of extractable fat was signific...
Massey University, 1993
Sambar grazed mostly during the night (0100-0500 b), late afternoon and evening (1700-2100 b), whereas red deer grazed mostly during early morning (0500-0700 h), afternoon and early evening (1500-2000 b). Total grazing time was not altered by season and month and was similar for both sambar and red deer (9.1 v 9.4 h/24h). However, sambar spent more time grazing during the night (6.2 v 4.9 h)/24b; p<O.Ol) and less time grazing during the day (2.9 v 4.5 b/24h; p<0.01) than red deer. Rate of prehending biting was greater for sambar than for red deer (64.5 v 47.7 bites/min; p<0.001). It is suggested that longer night grazing by sambar may have evolved to reduce thermoregulatory stress in tropical environments and as a defensive strategy against attack by predators. 3. Dietary preferences of sambar and red deer were determined by field observations on three occasions, at 2-monthly intervals, by offering the animals access to two legumes, three grasses and two browse species. The animals were allowed to graze freely until 300 observations bad been recorded. Nutritive quality of plants on offer and of the diet selected, plant height, plant species purity, plant preference and stem diameter selected were also recorded. Willow was the first preference of sambar followed by high endophyte perennial ryegrass. Red clover was the first preference by red deer followed by lotus. Sambar selected both willow leaves and stems below 36 mm diameter, whilst red deer selected leaves only. Sambar selected plant components higher in lignin and condensed tannin, but lower in OMD and total N than red deer. 4. Ten sambar and nine red deer calves were taken from their dams within 24 h of birth and artificially reared with ewe milk replacer until weaning at 70 days of age. Body dimensions at birth (weight, height, girth circumference and length), liveweight gain, milk consumption and behavioural aspects during artificial rearing were recorded. Sambar calves had lower overall milk consumption than red deer calves (312 v 359 gDM/day: p<0.05), and showed an earlier peak in milk consumption, a faster rate of decline in milk consumption and earlier self-weaning. Birth weight as a proportion of darn liveweight was lower for sambar than for red deer, but liveweight gains to weaning (347 v 330 g/day) and weaning weights (30.0 v 30.4 kg) were similar. The age at which calves commenced a range of activities, including eating forage and ruminating, were similar for both species. However, "jumping" activities commenced five days later in sambar than in red deer (p<0.01). Following milk feeding, sambar calves were less active than red deer calves. This study demonstrated that sambar calves can be successfully artificially reared using ewe milk replacer, but extra precautions are needed to avoid scouring and abomasal bloat, which were more prevalent in sambar than in red deer. 5. Artificially reared sambar and red deer were confmed in metabolism cages and fed chaffed lucerne bay ad libitum for the period of four weeks during summer and winter. Measurements were iii made of VFI, water intake, apparent digestibility, faeces particle size distribution, eating and ruminating time and the rate of chewing during eating and ruminating. Red deer reduced VFI (kg DM/d) markedly from summer to winter (1898 v 1345 gDM, respectively), while that of sambar increased slightly over this time (1244 v 1404 gDM, respectively). Digestive efficiency was similar in sambar and red deer during both summer and winter (58.1% DMD) and the critical particle size for leaving the rumen was less than one mm sieve size for both deer species. Time spent eating/gDMI was greater for sambar than for red deer during summer (0.28 v 0.16 min/gDMI; p<0.01), but there was no difference during winter (0.14 v 0.16 min/gDMI). Relative to red deer, sambar consistently spent more time ruminating/gDMI and spent a greater proportion of total ruminating time as daytime ruminating, and had more daytime ruminating bouts. Sambar had less number of chewsfbolus ruminated but more rumination boli/h than red deer. Differences between sambar and red deer were more pronounced in ruminating than in eating behaviour, which may be a mechanism to improve the breakdown of low quality tropical forages. 6. Eight artificially reared deer (5 stags, 3 hinds) from each deer species were randomly allocated to individual indoor pens for a 16-month period. Three sambar later died as a result of a neck injury (n=1) and MCF (n=2). All animals were fed a pelleted diet ad libitum (12 MJME/kgDM; 2.9% N), and the two deer species were compared for rate of body growth, VFI and blood plasma levels of prolactin (PRL), progesterone (P), testosterone (T) and luteinizing hormone (LH). During the rut, scrotal circumference of stags in both species was also measured. Compared to red deer, both sexes of sambar showed a weak seasonal pattern of VFI and body growth. Peak VFI in sambar occurred in autumn and lowest in spring, whereas red deer had peak VFI in summer and lowest VFI in winter. Growth rate followed the same pattern. Sambar appeared to be more efficient in converting feed to liveweight gain than red deer. Estimated requirements of ME for both maintenance and gain (above maintenance) in sambar tended to be lower than for red deer, with this being true for both sexes. While sambar did not develop secondary fibres during winter, the primary fibres were coarser and sparser than those of red deer. Plasma PRL concentrations were seasonal in both species, with highest values in summer and lowest values in winter. Relative to red deer, sambar tended to have higher plasma PRL concentrations in autumn, and sambar stags tended to have lower plasma PRL concentrations in summer. Sambar stags showed elevated levels of plasma T concentrations over a longer period (autumn-spring), but the magnitude was not as high as for red deer. Red stags showed peak plasma LH concentrations during summer and peak plasma T concentrations in autumn, with low values in winter and spring. Spike release of plasma P was detected in red binds in autumn and sambar binds in spring, when they were aged respectively 17 and 14 months, and weighed 95.5 and 90.0 kg. It was concluded that sambar have endogenous cycles of VFI, growth and hormone secretion but they were of reduced amplitude and witll different seasonality to tllose of red deer. 7. Nine artificially reared sambar (5 stags, 4 hinds) were blood sampled without being sedated,
The feed organic matter consumption of Deer fed three difference type of feedstuffs
2020
Spotted deer (Axis axis) is one of the animals that are currently being developed as source of animal protein for people in Indonesia. A spotted deer breeding center can be successfully developed by providing feed with a good quality and having enough nutrient. The main purpose of this study was to determine the feed organic matter consumption of a group of 36 deer fed carrot, feed concentrate, and elephant grass. Feeding of the three feedstuffs was carried out for three weeks with different feedstuffs each week. In the first week of experiment, a group of 36 deer was given carrot (Diet-1), the second week the deer was given feed concentrate (Diet-2), and the third week the deer was given elephant grass (Diet-3). Water was freely available to the deer every day. The consumption of feed organic matter and the feed palatability were measured 5 days each week, then the deer was given 2 days' adaption period for new feed. Data of organic matter consumption of feed the analyzed using a one-way analysis of variance (Anova). The results showed that the organic matter feed consumption was significantly difference (p<0.05) between those of the three difference feedstuffs. Those 21 deer consumed organic matter of carrot 12kg/day, feed concentrate 13kg/day, and elephant grass 4kg/day, respectively. A similar trial was conducted to a group of 9 deer, and the results of this trial just confirmed the results of the previous experiment. It was concluded that the different of organic matter consumption of the three feedstuffs may be due to difference of the palatability of the feedstuffs.
Annals of Animal Science, 2020
deer meat is a high quality and valuable food for human consumption. it has high nutritive value because of its high protein and heme iron content, and low levels of fats and saturated fatty acids. the aim of this study was to examine the quality parameters of meat from fallow deer and roe deer that were hunted in Serbia. Parameters studied were live weight, carcass weight, chemical composition of meat, color, fatty acid content of meat, volatile compounds, and sensory characteristics. The results obtained show no significant difference in the chemical composition of these two species of deer meat, but there were differences regarding fatty acid content, volatile compounds, color and sensory properties of meat. the ratios of polyunsaturated to saturated fatty acids in the deer meat ranged from 0.387 to 0.556. The results suggest that deer species has a significant impact on the fatty acid profile and content of volatile compounds of deer meat.
Serum Biochemistry of Persian Fallow Deer (Dama
Comparative Haematology International, 2002
In order to study serum biochemistry of Persian fallow deer (Dama mesopotamica), sampling was conducted from eight clinicaly normal Persian fallow deer (three females and ¢ve males) aged between 6 months and 10 years and the following results were obtained: total protein 68.4 þ 5 g/l; albumin 28.1 þ 8.9 g/l; globulin 42.7 þ 7.5 g/l; A: G 0.63 þ 0.25; glucose 6.61 þ 3.41 mmol/l; triglyceride 0.37 þ 0.22 mmol/l; cholesterol 2.86 þ 1.46 mmol/l; blood urea nitrogen 8.91 þ 1.21 mmol/l; creatinin 146.75 þ 53.92 mmol/l; total bilirubin 12.99 þ 2.05 mmol/l; direct bilirubin 7.01 þ 1.88 mmol/l; aspartate aminotransferase (AST) 20.25 þ 7.36 IU/l; alanine aminotransferase (ALT) 26.38 þ 8.94 IU/l; alkaline phosphatase (AP) 118.25 þ 70.79 IU/l; creatine kinase (CK) 219.13 þ 151.81 IU/l; Na 147.5 þ 9.09 mmol/l; K 6.82 þ 1.92 mmol/l; Cl 103.88 þ 5.44 mmol/l; Ca 2.79 þ 0.43 mmol/l; P 1.99 þ0.47 mmol/l; Mg 1.12 þ 0.23 mmol/l. Signi¢cant di¡erences were seen for Na and P between age groups, with higher levels in deer aged less than 2 years (p50.05). Glucose had higher values in does than in stags (p50.05). Correlations between measured parameters were also determined.
Rangifer, 2005
The effects of feeding regimen on carcass characteristics, meat colour and water-holding capacity of M. longissimus were studied in 24 female fallow deer (Dama dama). All animals were farm raised; twelve were grazed on pasture and twelve were fed barley and a small amount of hay prior to slaughter. The animals were slaughtered at two occasions (during the Southern Hemisphere spring); after 19 weeks of feeding (n=12; 6 grazing and 6 barley fed animals; group 1) and after 24 weeks of feeding (n=12; 6 grazing and 6 barley fed animals; group 2). The barley/hay-fed deer had significantly higher body condition scores and carcass weights than the pasture raised group. No difference in meat ultimate pH values between the treatment groups was recorded. The meat from the pasture raised deer had significantly longer colour display life after 2 and 3 weeks of refrigerated storage (+ 2.0 ºC) in vacuum bags. There was no difference in drip loss between the two treatment groups. However, significantly lower drip losses were found in meat from the animals in group 2 compared with the ones in group 1 (P ≤ 0.001). It was concluded that the feeding regimen of the animals is an important factor that contributes to the variation in quality of fresh chilled deer meat (venison), mainly the colour stability and display life of vacuum packaged meat.