Blood constituents of farmed red deer (Census elaphus). II: biochemical values

Abstract

Approximately 80 farmed male and female red deer aged three months and over were blood sampled and biochemical parameters measured. The deer were sampled by jugular venepuncture without tranquillization. Mean values recorded were serum gamma-glutamyltransferase (19.5 IU/l), glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (43.0 IU/l), creatine phosphokinase (197.9 IU/l), plasma pepsinogen (0.91 IU/i), blood urea nitrogen (8.56 mmol/l), serum glucose (6.9 mmol/l), phosphorus (1.75 mmol/l), calcium (2.13 mmol/l), magnesium (0.74 mmol/l), potassium (4.43 mmol/l) and sodium (138.5 mmol/l). There were no significant differences in any parameter between sexes or between age groups 3-8 months, 9-18 months, or older.

Haematological and serum biochemical reference values in free-ranging red deer (Cervus elaphus atlanticus)

“…Stress and physical exertion lead to an increase in the concentration of potassium in the blood of wild ungulates (Kock et al, 1987). The mean value of potassium is higher in this study than reported by Wilson & Pauli (1983) and Arnemo et al (1994). Physically captured deer have a higher level of these minerals than those captured by use of tranquillisers (Marco & Lavín, 1999).…”

“…In general, the calves in this study were very calm when captured at the feeding places. The mean values of calcium, sodium, magnesium and potassium were similar to the concentrations described by Marco & Lavín (1999) but lower than those published by Wilson & Pauli (1983).…”

“…Blood serum urea concentration was lower in this study than that determined by Wilson & Pauli (1983) and Knox et al (1988). This parameter reflects the intake of effective rumen-degradable protein, food nitrogen content and its balance with fermentable metabolic energy.…”

“…Considerable information on haematology and serum biochemistry for farmed red deer (Cervus elaphus) is available from New Zealand (Wilson & Pauli, 1982;Wilson & Pauli, 1983;Cross et al, 1988), Australia (Agar & Godwin, 1992) and Europe (Zomborszky et al, 1996;Peinado et al, 1999). The establishment of deer farming and the concomitant recognition of illness in individuals and of production-limiting health have highlighted the need for an evaluation of blood constituents as an aid for diagnosis.…”

Biochemical and Haematological Values in Venous Blood of Farmed Red Deer (Cervus elaphus) at High Altitude

“…The glucose level is related to a nutritional status, although some factors such as stress can contribute to its higher value (Wolfe et al 1982). The activities of AST in serum of red deer in our study were mildly higher than those determined by Wilson and Pauli (1983), but corresponded to the values described by Knox et al (1988). Serum AST activities are elevated during muscle or liver damage in bovine and equine species, and their peak activities occur 24 -48 h after injury (Meyer and Harvey 1998).…”