• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.30-35
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• 2014

This study was conducted to evaluate the protein requirement for maintenance of 2-year-old female Korean spotted deer. In the course of the experiment, each of three hand-reared female spotted deer was fed three diets that were iso-calorically formulated to contain low (approximately 7%), medium (12%), and high (17%) levels of crude protein (CP). Each of six trials included a 5-day transition, a 10-day preliminary, and a 7-day collection period. Dietary protein levels affected the apparent digestibility of CP (p<0.05) but not the apparent digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, or acid detergent fiber. All of the deer showed a positive CP balance on all of the diets. The maintenance CP requirement estimated by regression analysis was 4.17 g/kg metabolic body weight $(W^{0.75}){\cdot}d$. The maintenance digestible CP requirement was 1.42 g/kg $W^{0.75}{\cdot}d$. The metabolic fecal CP was 1.95 g/kg $W^{0.75}{\cdot}d$. The blood urea nitrogen of spotted deer increased (p<0.05) as the dietary protein levels increased.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.702-705
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• 2003

Forest by-product silage (FPS) comprised of foliage, shrubs, and wild grasses was prepared to examine feeding value as sole roughage source for spotted (sika) deer. This diet was compared with imported oak leaf hay (OLH) and a commercial mixed ration (CMR) in digestion balance trials with spotted deer. Dry matter intake was highest (p<0.05) on the OLH, whereas intakes of the FPS and CMR were similar (p>0.05). Digestibility of dry matter was highest (p<0.05) for CMR. Digestibility of crude protein was highest in CMR and lowest in OLH and there were significant differences (p<0.05) among diets. Average daily gain, digestible dry matter intake and digestibility of crude fiber did not differ significantly among diets. Nitrogen intake, urinary and digestible nitrogen were highest (p<0.05) in CMR. However, nitrogen retention was not significantly different. Consequently, FPS is a good roughage source for deer having high digestibility, dry matter intake and availability of nitrogen.

• 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.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.19 no.9
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• pp.1298-1304
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• 2006

The aim of this study was to provide basic haematological information to allow improved nutritional management for velvet production in spotted deer (Cervus nippon) by investigating biochemical changes in blood values during the antler growth period. Blood samples, obtained from the jugular vein of twenty-five deer, were taken every 10 days from casting (day 0) to harvesting (day 50) of velvet antler. Negligible changes were found in the concentrations of total protein, albumin, and creatinine during the antler growth period, but there were significant changes in the concentrations of urea (p<0.05) and uric acid (p<0.01). The concentration of triglyceride was significantly higher (p<0.05) during the antler growth period compared to casting time, while serum high-density lipoprotein concentrations were low and remained unchanged during the antler growth period. Serum glucose concentration increased (p<0.05) significantly and was slightly changeable during antler growth. The serum concentrations of Ca and P did not fluctuate during antler growth, while those of Na, K and Cl showed slight differences between the time of casting and the rest of the antler growth period. No significant changes in concentrations of AST, ALT, amylase, CK, GGT and LDH were detected during the antler growth period. However, the concentration of ALK-P increased during antler growth reaching its peak on day 50 after casting. We found a significant difference in the concentration of ALK-P between the time of casting and the rest of the antler growth period (p<0.01). Consequently, antler growth was associated with mild changes in measured serum biochemical values with the exception of ALK-P activity 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.45 no.6
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• pp.1031-1038
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• 2003

This study was aimed at investigating the change of blood mineral and enzyme activity during growth period of velvet antler in Korean spotted deer. Samples of blood, obtained from the jugular vein of twenty-five deer(4 to 6 year-old males), were taken in 10 days interval from just after casting to 50 days. Deer were randomly selected from the farm, and samples were analyzed for blood parameters like mineral concentration and enzyme activities. No significant differences found in calcium and phosphorus concentration in blood whereas sodium, potassium and chloride concentration were significantly changed with antler growth. There were no significant differences in alkaline phosphatase, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, $\gamma$-glutamyl transferase and lactate dehydrogenase during growth of antler, but alkaline phosphatase concentration was increased with growth of antler, and the highest concentration was obtained on the 50 days after casting. Creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase activities for the deer tested in this experiment were higher than those of other animals.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.347-355
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• 1994

Thirty farmers, representing three major deer counties in Kyung-Kee province and 50 farmers scattered in Chung-Buk province were interviewed to determine the current status of the Korean deer industry. Items surveyed were general information, farmed deer breeds. farm facilities, feeding and nutrition, hygiene and disorder incidence, velvetting, income sources, products and their sale, management problems and herd size control. The 888 deer farmed in Kyung-Kee province included spotted deer (Cervus nippon. 69.4%), red deer (Cervus elaphus, 6.1%), wapiti (Cervus elaphus canadensis, 12.2%), spotted $\times$ red deer hybrids (6.2%), red deer $\times$ wapiti hybrids (4.6%). and fallow deer (Dama dama, 1.5%). Poor information on feeding was evidenced by wide variation among farms of daily feed supply and ratios of forage to concentrate, and poor nutritional considerations according to physiological status of deer. Hygiene needed more attention. The incidence of diseases and disorders was high: enteritis (73.3% in Kyung-Kee province), fractures (60.0%), and dystocia (56.7%). The major source of farm income was velvet antler and its blood. To improve productive efficiency, attention should be given to improving farm facilities, simplified product marketing, developing standard feeding system, and economic grazing system.

• 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.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.13 no.10
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• pp.1394-1398
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• 2000

This experiment was carried out to examine the seasonal changes in feed intake and feeding behavior in Korean spotted deer under farmed condition to obtain basic information for efficient feeding management. The seasonal daily gain was the highest (p<0.05) in summer and the lowest (p<0.05) in winter. Dry matter intake (DMI) was the highest (p<0.05) in spring (2,685 g/day) and the lowest in winter (1,929 g/day). Intake of roughage in the DMI was the greatest in spring and that in winter was significantly lower (p<0.05) than in spring. Also DMI, expressed in terms of metabolic body weight ($kgW^{0.75}$), was 85.5 g, 70.6 g, 70.9 g and 65.1 g for spring, summer, autumn and winter, respectively, and thus was the highest in spring and the lowest in winter (p<0.05). Deer exhibited similar eating patterns, comparatively short and frequent periods, in all seasons. They showed comparatively intensive patterns of rumination during midnight for autumn and winter and relatively continuous patterns of chewing activity during spring and summer. There were no significant differences in seasonal eating time and ruminating time. However, exercise time was the greatest for winter and the lowest for summer and there was a significant difference (p<0.05) between summer and winter. Although not significant, eating time per 100 gDM ingested tended to be short in spring and summer and long in autumn and winter. Ruminating time per 100 gDM ingested was the shortest (p<0.05) in spring compared with in other seasons. The conclusion can be drawn that since deer have seasonal differences in feed intake and feeding habits, it is necessary to establish and develop an efficient feeding system for deer.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.79-86
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• 2003

To determine nutritive value and suitability of deep-stacked broiler litter for deer, the influence of supplementary levels of broiler litter on digestibility, dry matter intake, and nitrogen balance was investigated in male spotted deer (Cervus nippon) fed a commercial mixed(complete) ration. The deep-stacked and ground broiler litter was supplemented at the level of 0%(Control), 15%(T1) and 30%(T2) on the basis of fresh matter to the mixed ration. All treatments had similar palatability at about 3% body weight of dry matter intake. Dry matter digestibility was highest in Control and lowest in T2(P<0.05). Digestibility of crude protein was lowest(P<0.05) in T2. Dry matter and digestible dry matter intake was similar in all treatments. Daily body weight gain was not affected by treatments. Feeding 15 or 30% of broiler litter to male deer resulted in similar nitrogen intake, fecal nitrogen excretion and daily nitrogen retention(g/d), compared with feeding Control. These results suggest that up to 30% of broiler litter may be fed to male deer without deleterious effects on deer performance.