PRODUCTION PERFORMANCE IN EUROPEAN RED DEER KEPT UNDER PARK CONDITIONS

Abstract

Materials are given from a study of the liveweight dynamics in European red deer kept on artificial pastures in the park; characteristic of their velvet antlers is presented. The live weight of a young deer at birth made up 9.2-11.6 kg, at weaning at the age of 6 months 63.1-66.6 kg; the live weight of a year-old female was 65.7 kg, that of male 76.8 kg, at the age of 6 years and older 117.1 and 276.5, respectively. Velvet antlers in both adult deer and young deer with their first antlers have a crown with six processes. The weight of antlers depends on antler cut time and an age of a deer: it made up 5.2 ±1.3 kg in red deer stags, 2.9 ± 0.6 in young deer with their first antlers fluctuating from 3.1 to 7.3 and from 2.2 to 3.8 kg, respectively. Antlers of red deer stags have ash content of 35.4 ± 2.3%, mass antler protein share of 57.0 ± 3.4%, fat content 2.33 ± 0.4%; those of young deer with their first antlers 42.2 ± 0.9%, 52.9 ± 2.8%, and 1.77 ± 0.2%, respectively. The amino acid and mineral composition of antlers is given. The biological activity of antlers ranges from 22.4% in red deer stags to 25.6% in young deer with their first antlers. There was studied the biochemical composition of antlers and biological activity depending on an age and origin of a deer as well as on its weight and a degree of antler development. Criteria of readiness for antler cut were found.