Reproductive tract morphology and symmetry of farmed common eland (Tragelaphus oryx) bulls, and their relationship with secondary sexual traits and social rank.

Common eland bulls are important game ranching animals in southern Africa, for tourism, breeding/live sales, trophy hunting, and game meat production. Interest has grown in their production potential, intensifying animal husbandry and breeding approaches. However, little scientific information is available regarding the intensive management of this species, including information regarding scientifically based selection criteria for breeding bulls.

Effects of temperament during handling and social rank on the blood biochemical parameters of common eland (Taurotragus oryx).

Large herbivores are subject to handling and social stress in captivity. These may affect blood biochemical values, which motivated this research. Twelve healthy common eland (Taurotragus oryx) were monitored for 12 months.

Effects of Immunocastration and Amino Acid Supplementation on Yearling Fallow Deer () Testes Development.

Forty-four fallow deer bucks (10 months old; 22.9 ± 2.4 kg) were utilized to investigate the effects of immunocastration and amino acid supplementation on testes development.

Effects of immunocastration and supplementary feeding level on the performance and blood biochemical markers of farmed yearling fallow deer (Dama dama).

In cervids, blood biochemical markers may reflect changes in various physiological and environmental factors, especially in response to changes in metabolism following nutrient supplementation or the manipulation of hormone production. Decreasing androgen production through immunocastration (IC) to ease the husbandry of male animals is currently a more ethically acceptable method than physical castration, but its commercial use is unexplored in fallow deer. Forty yearlings male fallow deer were grouped into four treatment combinations: IC on high (200 g commercial pellets + 600 g concentrate mixture of 90% oats and 10% wheat grains) or low (100 g commercial pellets + 300 g concentrate mixture of 90% oats and 10% wheat grains) level of feed supplementation, or noncastrated bucks on a high or low level of feed supplementation.

Potential benefits of amino acid supplementation for cervid performance and nutritional ecology, with special focus on lysine and methionine: A review.

Deer farming is a thriving industry for venison, velvet antlers, trophy hunting, and other by-products. Feeding and nutrition are important factors for improving production performance, especially dietary protein and amino acids (AAs), as they are the main components of all tissues. Only a few studies on AA supplementation (Lys, Met, Arg) have been performed on cervids, which show positive effects on weight gain, ADG, feed-:gain ratio, plasma AAs, carcass weight, dressing percentage, yield of high-quality muscles, storage of internal fat during winter, DM and CP digestibility, plasma protein- and fat-related metabolite concentrations, antler burr perimeter, weight, length and mineralisation, velvet antler yield, rumen volatile fatty acids, and microbiome composition.