The Composition and Yield of Milk From Captive Red Deer (Cervus Elaphus L.)

Abstract

Summary. The gross anatomy of the mammary gland of the red deer is described. A total of 102 milk samples was obtained from six deer (four during a complete lactation). These contained an average of 21\m=.\1 % total solids (8\m=.\5% fat) in early lactation, rising to 27\m=.\1% (13\m=.\1% fat) in late lactation. Milk yieldswere measured by the calf-weighing technique. In well-fed hinds, peak yields of 1400 to 2000 g/day were reached early in lactation. One hind on a restricted food intake gave a maximum of 970 g/day. Lactation continued for 190 to over 280 days. Total yields for the first 150 days were estimated to be 140 to 180 kg in well-fed hinds and 65 kg in the underfed hind.The feed intakes of the hinds rose during late pregnancy, and in early lactation rose again markedly, to a level about 2\ m=. \ 4 to 2\ m=. \ 6 times the maintenance requirement of non-breeding animals.

Nursing and feeding behaviour of confined red deer(cervus elaphus scoticus)in the Mexican highlands∗

“…Although we did not observe differences in suckling behaviour between light and dark hours in Experiment 1, in Experiment 2 it was noted that, even considering the fact that wild ungulates have to nurse very quickly, the time spent suckling seemed too short, especially when taking into account the fact that the daily milk intake is estimated to be up to approximately 2 litres (Arman et al 1974;Haigh & Hudson 1993;Landete-Castillejos et al 2000).…”

“…The latter factor could be important in intensive deer farming since the identification of a given fawn's dam and its maternal ability (milking and nursing) would be difficult to measure. The fact that fawns seem to be fed by the herd rather than by their individual dams would also minimise the need to hand-rear orphaned or rejected fawns (Semiadi et al 1993a), a costly and time-consuming endeavour, in which a milk substitute is used (Arman et al 1974;Napolitano et al 1995).…”

Milk composition, lactation and the artificial rearing of red deer

“…while this investigation was in progress there appeared two large works on this theme (A r m a n et al, 1974, Briiggemann et al, 1973. One of them conducted on a subspecies occuring in Scotland (C.e.…”

A Note on Parturition and Maternal Behaviour in Captive Red Deer (Cervus Elaphus L.)

“…The calving was assisted, but the calf died of an umbilical haemorrhage into the uterus. Arman et al (1974), and studies on calf growth will be reported elsewhere.…”