• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.19 no.12
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• pp.1737-1741
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• 2006

The aim of this study was to provide basic information to allow improved nutritional management for velvet production by investigating the effects of dietary protein levels on dry matter intake and production and chemical composition of velvet antler in spotted deer (Cervus nippon). Twenty-four spotted deer stags were assigned to 4 unreplicated groups, Control (15% CP in diet, higher dry matter), CP10 (10% CP), CP15 (15% CP) and CP20 (20% CP). The velvet antlers were harvested from each stag on the 55th day after casting of the buttons from the previous set, measured for their size and weight, and the chemical composition of each antler was determined in three sections (top, middle, and base). Dry matter (DMI) and crude protein (CPI) intake were highest (p<0.05) for the Control and increased progressively (p<0.05) with increasing dietary protein level. Although not significant, mean length and girth of the main antler beam tended to be larger in either left or right beam with increasing protein level in the diet, longest in CP20 and shortest in CP10. Velvet antler production was lowest in CP10 and highest in CP20, which differed significantly (p<0.05). Only negligible differences were found between groups in chemical composition. It is concluded that dietary protein clearly influenced dry matter intake and velvet antler production, whereas there was comparatively little effect of dietary protein on chemical composition of antler in spotted deer.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.34 no.3 s.134
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• pp.263-268
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• 2003

This study was carried out to evaluate the change of blood constituents during the growth of antlers in Korean spotted deer (Cervus nippon). Samples of blood, obtained from the jugular vein of twenty five deer (3 to 6 year-old males) were taken in 10 days interval from casting to cutting of antler and were analyzed the blood parameters. Total-protein concentration in blood serum showed significantly differences during growth period of velvet antler (p<0.01), and it had similar tendency for total protein and albumin concentration, but albumin concentration was about 40-45% of total protein concentration. Urea and creatinine concentration was tended to inverse proportion, and it was almost 30:1 for ratio of urea and creatinine concentration. The concentration of total protein, creatinine, and uric acid concentration in blood during growth period of velvet antler was similarly increased and decreased but urea concentration was opposed. The concentration of total-bilirubin and direct-bilirubin at casting was higher than those at other period(P<0.05).

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.429-438
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• 2005

This experiment was conducted to determine the effects of feeding CLA and coumarin on the changes of biochemical composition of velvet antler and blood serum in spotted deer (Cervus nippon). There were no significant differences between treatments in crude protein, crude fiber, and crude ash contents of velvet antler. The content of fatty acid did not differ between treatments, although there were significant differences (P<0.05) in C16:0 and C20:0. The content of collagen was significantly higher (P<0.05) in control than those in CLA and coumarin treatments. There were no significant differences between treatments in the contents of amino acids. Some constituents of blood showed much differences in comparison of pre and post-experiment for all treatments. Feeding of CLA and coumarin was not influential on the chemical composition of velvet antler and blood serum.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.542-551
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• 2017

The quality characteristics of velvet antlers obtained from Formosan sambar deer (Cervus unicolor Swinhoi) (SDVA), harvested from 63 to 81 d during the velvet antler growth period, were evaluated by investigating the relationships between antioxidant levels; including content, activity, and content/activity ratios, and physical properties; including shear force values, color, and Ca content. The hardness of samples from base velvet antler sections increased, and that the color of these samples tended to become reddish-yellow (redder and more yellow), suggesting that the Ca content in the base section of the sample was not ossified yet. Samples from the upper sections of velvet antler showed higher superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) content (3.91 to 1.50 mg/mL, 2.53 to 0.90 mg/mL, and 3.95 to 1.58 mg/mL, respectively) than did samples from the middle and base sections (p<0.05). The activity and content/activity ratios of GPX measured in the upper section were also found to be significantly greater than in the middle and base sections (p<0.05). We further observed that the content and activity of GPX was significantly and negatively correlated with Ca content, shear force values, and the content/activity ratio of this antioxidant (p<0.01). The study findings may serve as a reference index for quality evaluations of velvet antlers of Formosan sambar deer in future.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.64 no.1
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• pp.166-182
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• 2022

Deer antler velvet is widely used in traditional medicine for its anti-aging, antioxidant, and immunity-enhancing effects. However, few studies have reported on the discovery of probiotic strains for deer antler fermentation to increase functional ingredient absorption. This study evaluated the ability of probiotic lactic acid bacteria to enhance the concentrations of bioactive molecules (e.g., sialic acid and gamma-aminobutyric acid [GABA]) in extracts of deer antler velvet. Seventeen strains of Lactobacillus spp. that were isolated from kimchi and infant feces, including L. sakei, L. rhamnosus, L. brevis, and L. plantarum, and those that improved the life span of Caenorhabditis elegans were selected for evaluation. Of the 17 strains, 2 (L. rhamnosus LFR20-004 and L. sakei LFR20-007) were selected based on data showing that these strains increased both the sialic acid and GABA contents of deer antler extract after fermentation for 2 d and significantly improved the life span of C. elegans. Co-fermentation with both strains further increased the concentrations of sialic acid, GABA, and metabolites such as short-chain fatty acids and amino acids. We evaluated the biological effects of the fermented antler velvet (FAV) on the antibacterial immune response in C. elegans by assessing worm survival after pathogen infection. The survival of the C. elegans conditioned with FAV for 24h was significantly higher compared with that of the control worm group fed only normal feed (non-pathogenic E. coli OP50) exposed to E. coli O157:H7, Salmonella typhi, and Listeria monocytogenes. To evaluate the protective effects of FAV on immune response, cyclophosphamide (Cy), an immune-suppressing agent was treated to in vitro and in vivo. We found that FAV significantly restored viability of mice splenocytes and immune promoting-related cytokines (interleukin [IL]-6, IL-10, inducible nitric oxide synthase [iNOS], interferon [IFN]-γ, and tumor necrosis factor [TNF]-α) were activated compared to non-fermented deer antlers. This finding indicated the protective effect of FAV against Cy-induced cell death and immunosuppressed mice. Taken together, our study suggests that immune-promoting antler velvet can be produced through fermentation using L. rhamnosus LFR20-004 and L. sakei LFR20-007.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.47 no.5
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• pp.905-912
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• 2005

The study was conducted to determine the effects of hormone injection on casting day of antler, velvet antler yield, and blood hormone concentration in elk deer and Sika deer. The study revealed that the casting day of Elk and Sika deer at medroxy progesterone acetate(MPA) injection averaged 21 days after MPA injection, which was earlier 38 and 24 days, respectively, compared control(P<0.01). The regrowth of antler in both Sika deer and Elk occurred in the MPA injection and the duration of antler growth was 2 times longer than control. The total yield of velvet antler of Elk in the control and MPA injection was 7.31 and 10.11kg and the that of sika deer was 1.00 and 1.41kg, respectively. Blood testosterone concentration of Sika deer and Elk was less than 4.0ng/ml for both at the casting and during the antler growing. Blood IGF-1 concentrations of Sika deer and Elk during the antler growing tended to increase with the same as growth curve of antler.

• Korean Deer Journal
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• v.7 no.10 s.48
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• pp.50-54
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• 2002

• Korean Deer Journal
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• v.7 no.10 s.48
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• pp.55-59
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• 2002

• Korean Deer Journal
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• v.7 no.10 s.48
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• pp.65-69
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• 2002

• Korean Deer Journal
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• v.8 no.4 s.52
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• pp.88-92
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• 2003