How to evaluate body conditions of red deer (Cervus elaphus) in an alpine environment?
| Autor: | E. Andreoli, Silvana Mattiello, A.F.A. Cantafora, Alessandro Bianchi, Alessandra Stefanelli |
|---|---|
| Jazyk: | angličtina |
| Rok vydání: | 2010 |
| Předmět: |
medicine.medical_specialty
Index (economics) 040301 veterinary sciences Back fat 0402 animal and dairy science 04 agricultural and veterinary sciences Culling Biology Age and sex 040201 dairy & animal science 0403 veterinary science Animal science Endocrinology Regression toward the mean Internal medicine Kidney fat index Back fat Body condition score Physical conditions Ungulate management medicine Cervus elaphus Animal Science and Zoology lcsh:Animal culture Animal nutrition Body condition lcsh:SF1-1100 |
| Zdroj: | Italian Journal of Animal Science, Vol 8, Iss 4, Pp 555-565 (2010) |
| ISSN: | 1594-4077 |
| Popis: | The aim of this investigation was to compare different indices for evaluating nutritional conditions of red deer (Cervus elaphus) in an alpine environment during the autumn in order to detect the most convenient ones for management purposes in our specific situation. Body conditions of 274 red deer were evaluated using kidney fat index, back fat index and body condition scores. Body Condition Scores was the easiest but the least reliable method. Both kidney fat index and back fat index were significantly affected by age and sex class (always lower in younger animals) and, in females, also by lactation status. In stags, a negative regression effect of culling date on both kidney fat index and back fat index was observed. A significant positive correlation between kidney fat index and back fat index was recorded. Both kidney fat index and back fat index were objective indicators of nutritional status and sensitive to changes in physical conditions, but back fat index was both quicker and easier to be measured. As a direct implication, we suggest that back fat index can be a practical and reliable indicator for monitoring red deer conditions in alpine areas during the autumn, provided that the effects of sex, age and date of culling are taken into account. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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