Liveweights, growth rates, and antler measurements of farmed red deer stags and their usefulness as predictors of performance

Open Access
Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Liveweights, growth rates, and velvet antler measurements were recorded for three cohorts of red deer (Cervus elaphus L.) stags (n = 97) from 3 months to 3 years of age and for one of these cohorts (n = 36) to 5 years of age to provide benchmark data. Regression relations~ips were investigated for liveweight and antler weight and between liveweight and antler weight, regressing measurements taken at older ages on younger ages. Variance in liveweights at 2 – 5 years of age was accounted for far more by 15-month liveweight than 3-month liveweight. Antler weight at 2 years of age accounted for more variance in antler weights at 3 – 5 years of age than any liveweight measurement. In the cohort recorded to 5 years of age, late summer liveweight increased linearly at 29 kg per year and antler weight increased linearly by 62 g for a 10 kg increase in late summer liveweight. Seven juvenile variables which are obtained by the age of 15 months were assessed for their ability to predict adult liveweight and velvet antler weight. These variables were liveweight at 3 months, liveweight when the pedicle was 2.5 cm, liveweight at 15 months, growth rate between 9 and 15 months, mean spike antler weight, and spike length. Liveweight at 15 months of age was found to be the best predictor of adult liveweight. Combining 15-month liveweight and spike antler weight provided the best juvenile predictor for later antler weight. Ranking of stags on both 15-month liveweight and spike weight could provide the best method for early selection of stags for velvet antler production.

This publication has 2 references indexed in Scilit: