Effect of winter nutrition on antler development in red deer (Cervus elaphus): A field study

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Abstract
The effects of winter nutrition on date of antler casting and subsequent weight of velvet antler in red deer (Cervus elaphus) was investigated in two environments (Farm L, lowland; Farm H, high country). On each property three groups of mature, mixed-age stags were offered a pelleted feed ad libitum, half ad libitum, or not at all. All groups had access to hay and limited pasture. Both supplemented groups gained weight and the unsupplemented group lost weight on both properties. Only at Farm H was casting date and velvet antler weight affected by treatment and this may have been related to the effect of intake on body condition. Date of antler casting was related to pre-rut bodyweight rather than age; with each 10 kg increase in bodyweight, date of antler casting advanced by 3 – 4 days. Within an age group, velvet antler weight increased by 0.12 kg with each 10 kg increase in pre-rut bodyweight.