Growth profiles and lactation in the Burmese brow-antlered deer

511 ABSTRACT A long-established population of exotic fallow deer (Dama dama) in western Kentucky, U.S.A., was observed in summer 1985 to determine sex ratio, group size, daily activity, and changes in the doe-fawn relationships associated with the process of weaning and social integration. Road counts were used to determine sex ratio and changes in group size. Data to determine changes in daily activity and behavior associated with weaning and fawn socialization were collected by scan and by focalanimal observational sampling. A skewed male:female sex ratio was observed (0.25: 1.00). Group size exhibited a curvilinear relationship between 23 May and 13 August, with a low coinciding with fawning, and was larger at night than during the day. Percentage of time that adults and fawns spent in certain daily activities also varied. Peak periods of adult and fawn movements, feeding and watchfulness occurred at dusk and dawn. At night, the deer primarily rested. Duration of nursing, mother-fawn contact, time fawn and doe were within 0.3 m of each other, and percentage of time that mother and fawn spent in close association decreased as the fawn grew older. Duration of fawn to mother contact remained constant, and the percentage of time that mother and fawn spent farther apart increased. These changes in behavior result in the fawn gradually becoming independent from its dam while simultaneously being socialized into the herd. From dusk to dawn (when h u m a n activity was minimal), fallow deer primarily fed and rested in open fields and lawns that had been mowed at least once during the summer. During the day, deer moved into wooded areas.

Growth profiles and lactation in the Burmese brow-antlered deer Caroline Martinet, Chris Wemmer, Jan Blew, Tim Halverson and Melissa Rodden Conservation and Research Center, National Zoological Park, Smithsonian Institution, Front Royal, FA 22630 (U.S.A.)

ABSTRACT Milk intake, suckling behavior and fawn growth were investigated in 9 mother-young pairs of the Burmese brow-antlered deer (Cervus eldi thamin) using the calf-weighing method. Analysis of milk samples collected from 4 does revealed that during the first 3 months of lactation, fat content remained constant ~ 11%, and protein levels varied between 7 and 8%. Lactose levels rose slightly during the first month, then remained at ~ 4.5%. Mean milk intake increased from 0.62 to 0.77 kg per 24 h during the first 8 weeks and then declined until weaning. Both cumulative suckle duration (minutes per 24 h) and suckle bout duration (minutes per suckle) decreased rapidly from the first to the sixth week (50 min to 4 min per 24 h and 11 min to 1 min per suckle, respectively) but only gradually thereafter. Fawns appeared to have a faster growth rate during the first 6 weeks, and no significant differences were found between male ( N = 3 ) and female ( N = 6 ) fawns from 1 to 15 weeks. Weaning occurred between Weeks 23 and 38 ( N = 4 ) .