Breeding interval [618511]

Western European Red Deer or Carpathian Red DeerClassification – TaxonomyCLASS MammalsORDER ArtiodactylaFAMILY CervidaeSUBFAMILY CervinaeSUBGENUS CervusLATIN NAME Cervus Elaphus CarpathicusThe red deer (Cervus Elaphus) is one of the largest deer species. The red deer inhabits most of Europe, the Caucasus Mountains region, Asia Minor, Iran, parts of western Asia, and central Asia. It also inhabits the Atlas Mountains region between Morocco and Tunisia in northwestern Africa, being the only species of deer to inhabit Africa. Red deer have been introduced to other areas, including Australia, New Zealand, United States, Canada, Peru, Uruguay, Chile and Argentina. In many parts of the world, the meat (venison) from red deer is used as a food source.

Red deer are ruminants, characterized by a four-chambered stomach. Genetic evidence indicates the red deer as traditionally defined is a species group, rather than a single species.

The barbary stag is an intermediate feeder ruminant of the Cervidae family. The macroscopic anatomy of the stomach in one adult barbary stag was described. The stomach of the barbary stagwas composed of the four classic compartments of the ruminants. The weight of the full stomach was 10.5 Kg. The ruminal papillae were distributed unevenly in the rumen. The maximum height of the cristae reticuli was 0.2 cm. The cellulae reticuli were mostly undivided. The curvatura omasi measured 15.0 cm and the omasum had 15 primary, 10 secondary, 10 tertiary and 17 cuaternary Laminae omasi. The abomasum had about 12 plicae spirales abomasi. We concluded that the stomach morphology of the barbary stag had characteristics of other intermediate feeder ruminants.From :www.researchgate.netCervus Elaphus CarpaticusWeight: 200 kg (Adult) Encyclopedia of Life

Gestation period: 236 days Encyclopedia of LifeLenght: 2,1 m (Adult) Encyclopedia of LifeEstinction Risk: lowest worry(going to increase) Encyclopedia of LifeLifespan/LongevityLongevity in elk is difficult to assess because most populations are affected by hunting pressures. Elk can live beyond 20 years.Average lifespanStatus: wild20+ yearsAverage lifespanStatus: wild26.8 yearsMax Planck Institute for Demographic ResearchReproductionShortly before the fall rut, in late September and early October, male elk lose the velvet on their antlers and begin to compete for access to females. Dominant males are able to maintain larger harems of females and restrict access to them. They defend a kind of "moving territory" around the harem. Males advertise this territory, their status, and attract females through bugling. Fights between dominant males and intruders can be intense

and result in injury, exhaustion, or death. Harems are usually made up of 1 bull and 6 females with their yearling calves and are seasonal.Mating System PolygynousBoth males and females are sexually mature at sixteen months, although young males do not usually mate until they are a few year old and can compete with more mature males. Gestation generally lasts between 240 and 262 days and results in a single birth (twins are rare). This low annual production is offset by a high investment in protective maternal care. At birth, calves weigh around 15 to 16 kg and have creamy spots on their back and sides. Their hooves are soft. Just after birth, a cow and her calf will live alone for several weeks. At 16 days the calf is able to join the herd, and weaning is completed within 60 days.
Breeding interval
Breeding occurs each year when nutrition is adequate.
Breeding season
Breeding occurs in late September or early October.

Range number of offspring 2 (high)
Average weaning age
2 months
Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity
(female)
16 months Source: www.animaldiversity.org/accounts/cervus/elaphusBehaviorElk are social animals; they live in summer herds with as many as 400 individuals. These herds are matriarchal and are dominated by a single cow. Seasonal migrations occur elevationally, with elk being found at higher elevations during summer, and migrating to lower elevations during winter. As the fall mating season approachs, bulls form harems, which they defend with their large size and aggressive nature. In spring, the sexes separate; females leave to give birth, while bulls form their own separate summer herds. After birth, cows and their calves form nursery groups until calves are ready to join the herd. Bulls are only territorial during the

mating season and are otherwise not aggressive toward other elk.Elk browse in the early morning and late evening . They are inactive during the day and the middle of the night, when they spend most of their time chewing their cud.Elk have a close association with white-tailed deer, sharing similar environments and similar habitats.Communication and PerceptionElk have keen senses of smell, hearing, and vision. They communicate with other elk using all of these senses, as well as touch. Elk are known as the noisiest of all cervids. Newborns bleat and squeal, females bark, grunt and squeal, and males are known for their characteristic low pitched bellow or roar, known as bugling. Bugling is used to attract mates and advertise territories during the fall rutting season and can be heard for long distances.

FEEDINGElk are browsers feeding on grasses, sedges, and forbs in summer and woody growth (cedar, wintergreen, eastern hemlock, sumac, jack pine, red maple, staghorn, and basswood) in the winter months. Favorites of the elk include dandelions, aster, hawkweed, violets, clover, and the occasional mushroom. Elk are ruminant animals and therefore regurgitate their food and remasticate to aid in digestion. This is also known as chewing cud.Primary Diet herbivore folivore lignivore Plant Foods leaves roots and tubers wood, bark, or stems bryophytes lichensOther Foods fungus.

Predation Predators of elk include mountain lions, gray wolves, and bears. Calves may fall victim to bobcats and coyotes. Healthy adults are rarely preyed on. Elk protect themselves from predators through their herding behavior and large size. They may also use their antlers (males) and sharp hooves to protect themselves.

Known Predatorsgrizzly bears (Ursus arctos)gray wolves (Canis lupus)American black bears (Ursus americanus)coyotes (Canis latrans)mountain lions (Puma concolor)bobcats (Lynx rufus)Physical DescriptionElk range in color from dark brown in winter to tan in summer and have a characteristic buff colored rump. The head, neck, belly, and legs are darker than both the back and sides. Elk generally have a long head with large ears and widely branching antlers as long as 1.1 to 1.5 m from tip to tip are found on males only. A dark shaggy mane hangs from the neck to the chest. With a thick body, short tail and long slender legs, most elk stand approximately 0.75 to 1.5 m high at the shoulder and are 1.6 to 2.7 m from nose to tail. Most males are 10 percent larger than females and may weigh twice as much. Females weigh from 171 to 292 kg, averaging 241 kg. Males weigh from 178 to 497 kg, averaging 331 kg.

Is eating deer meat good for you?When it comes to meats, deer meet is said to be high in nutritional value. That is to say that when compared to beef, pork, and chicken it is a superior source of nutrition as you will soon find out in terms macronutrient composition (protein, carbohydrate, fat), iron, and vitamin B2 while being relatively low in calories.The table below compares beef shoulder roast, roasted pork shoulder, and chicken breast meat in terms of nutritional value. For pork and beef, the values listed in the table or for low fat red meat.Note that although chicken breast may lack in vitamins
and minerals, it is unarguably one of the most suited foods to start thinking about when thinking about going on a high protein low calorie diet.Venison is high in iron which is good for iron deficiency anemia prevention and vitamin B2 to speed up your fat

burning metabolism. Eating deer meat while pregnant may help get over an iron deficiency given that the venison you are eating is properly handled and cured to eliminating any chance of coming across foodborne illnesses.
MEATS
DEER
BEEF PORK
CHICKEN
Protein: 22,3 g 16,5 g 19,7g
23,0g
Fat: 1,5g 26,1 g 7,8g
0,8g

Carbohydrate: 0,5g 0,2 g 0,1g
0g
Iron: 3,1mg 2,4mg 1,1mg
0,2mg
Vitamin B2: 0.35 mg 0,21 g 0,28g
0,11mg
Calories: 110 Kcal 316 Kcal 157Kcal
105Kcal
http://slism.com/diet/healthy-deer-meats.html
How to cook deer meat
Deer meat can be curried, cooked with soy sauce and
sake, and stewed amongst many other ways to cook
deer meat.
However, for people just getting started out making
their first dish featuring deer meat adding a little
seasoning to cover up the gamey smell may be what
you are looking for.

DEER’S ANTLERS
Antlers are extensions of the skull grown by members
of the deer family. They are true bone structures that
usually grow in symmetrical pairs.
An antler on a red deer stag. Velvet covers a growing
antler, providing blood flow that supplies oxygen and
nutrients.
Antler comes from the Old French antoillier (see present
French : "Andouiller", from ant-, meaning before, oeil,
meaning eye and -ier, a suffix indicating an action or state
of being), possibly from some form of an unattested Latin
word *anteocularis, "before the eye"[3] (and applied to the
word for "branch"or “horn”. Each antler grows from an
attachment point on the skull called a pedicle. While an
antler is growing, it is covered with highly vascular skin
called velvet, which supplies oxygen and nutrients to the
growing bone. Antlers are considered one of the most
exaggerated cases of male secondary sexual traits in the
animal kingdom,and grow faster than any other mammal
bone. Growth occurs at the tip, and is initially cartilage,
which is later replaced by bone tissue. Once the antler
has achieved its full size, the velvet is lost and the antler's
bone dies.
From: Wikipedia.
Andreea Simion Second year MVE