Carcass composition comparison of male and female red deer and hybrids with Père David's deer

The aim of the study was to compare the bodyweight and body measurements, carcass composition, and characteristics of major visceral organs in male and female Pekin ducks. A total of 80 hybrid SM3 Heavy ducks were kept in a conventional building and fed complete commercial diets ad libitum. The male and female were weighed individually at one day old and their bodyweight and body measurements were determined at 21, 35 and 49 days of rearing. On day 49, 20 males and 20 females were chosen for slaughter. After slaughter, the carcasses and visceral organs were collected. No significant differences were observed between males and females in bodyweight (1 d, 58.6 vs 56.3 g to 49 d, 3518 vs 3433 g) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) (0–49 d, 2.44 vs 2.49 kg/kg gain). At 35 days old males demonstrated a significantly longer body and shanks and, at 49 days old a significantly longer body than females. The sex of ducks had no significant effect on the percentage of wings, muscles from breast and legs, skin with subcutaneous fat, abdominal fat and carcass remainder. The neck content was significantly greater in male carcasses than female ones. The contents of proventriculus, liver, and spleen in the bodies of males and females were similar. Gizzard percentage was significantly greater in males, and heart percentage was significantly greater in females. Due to their high bodyweight, good FCR, and favourable carcass composition, SM3 Heavy male ducks are more useful as broiler duck than females.Keywords: carcasses, digestive system, growth, Pekin duck, sex

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The carcass composition of male, castrated male and female pigs resulting from two levels of feeding

The Journal of Agricultural Science ◽

10.1017/s0021859600039277 ◽

1980 ◽

Vol 95 (2) ◽

pp. 251-259 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

A. S. Davies ◽

G. Pearson ◽

J. R. Carr

Keyword(s):

Growth Rate ◽

Live Weight ◽

Anatomical Study ◽

Fat Deposition ◽

Carcass Composition ◽

Large White ◽

Male And Female ◽

Nutritional Effects ◽

Entire Male

SUMMARYAn anatomical study compared the effects of sex and a twofold nutritional difference in growth rate between 20 and 100 kg live weight, on 63 entire males, castrated male and female Large White × Landrace pigs. While the effect of growth rate was significant for overall fat deposition in the carcasses of all three sexes, it was greatest for the entire male. In contrast, sex and nutritional effects on the distribution of fat and on the proportion and distribution of muscle and bone were small.

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A comparison of the seasonal hormone changes and patterns of growth, voluntary food intake and reproduction in juvenile and adult red deer (Cervus elaphus) and Père David's deer (Elaphurus davidianus) hinds

Journal of Endocrinology ◽

10.1677/joe.0.1220733 ◽

1989 ◽

Vol 122 (3) ◽

pp. 733-745 ◽

Cited By ~ 61

Author(s):

A. S. I. Loudon ◽

J. A. Milne ◽

J. D. Curlewis ◽

A. S. McNeilly

Keyword(s):

Food Intake ◽

Breeding Season ◽

Seasonal Changes ◽

Red Deer ◽

Species Differences ◽

Energy Utilization ◽

Significant Advance ◽

Plasma Prolactin ◽

Père David’S Deer ◽

Voluntary Food Intake

ABSTRACT Non-domesticated seasonally breeding ungulates exhibit marked seasonal changes in metabolic rate, voluntary food intake (VFI), pelage growth and moult and hormone secretion. It is not known whether these seasonal rhythms are regulated by the same central processes which control the onset and termination of the breeding season. Here we compare two closely related deer species which have significantly different mating and calving seasons. Seasonal changes in VFI, liveweight, coat growth, plasma prolactin and tri-iodothyronine (T3), and the timing of the breeding season were examined over a 15-month period in six adult post-pubertal red and Père David's deer from January to April the following year. The timing of the seasonal changes in prolactin, T3, VFI and coat growth were all significantly advanced by 56, 23, 60 and 54 days respectively in the Père David's deer. The times of onset and termination of the breeding season of Père David's deer were also significantly advanced by 90 days, but in both species, the breeding season was of similar duration (160 ± 5 (s.e.m.) days). Changes in liveweight of adult red deer could be explained by changes in VFI rather than efficiency of utilization. This was not the case in Père David's deer and may indicate seasonal changes in the efficiency of energy utilization. In order to establish whether these species differences develop with age, we undertook a second study in which seasonal changes in VFI, growth, plasma prolactin concentrations and the timing of the onset of the breeding season were recorded for ten red deer and six Père David's deer from 6 to 18 months of age. Both species exhibited a similar decline in VFI in the first autumn of life. Subsequently, the Père David's deer exhibited an advance in the timing of the seasonal peak in VFI and prolactin (21 and 66 days respectively); puberty occurred 3 months earlier than in red deer. The earlier breeding season of the Père David's deer was associated with a significant advance in a range of seasonal endocrine and physiological parameters. These species differences may develop with age. Our data indicate that seasonal patterns of metabolism and growth may be closely linked to those mechanisms which also regulate the onset and termination of the breeding season. Journal of Endocrinology (1989) 122, 733–745

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An Aspartyl Protease Inhibitor Orthologue Expressed by Parelaphostrongylus tenuis Is Immunogenic in an Atypical Host

Clinical and Vaccine Immunology ◽

10.1128/cdli.9.4.763-770.2002 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 9 (4) ◽

pp. 763-770 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Michael S. Duffy ◽

Nancy MacAfee ◽

Michael D. B. Burt ◽

Judith A. Appleton

Keyword(s):

Protease Inhibitors ◽

Adult Male ◽

Red Deer ◽

Parasitic Nematodes ◽

Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽

Aspartyl Protease ◽

Native Protein ◽

Male And Female ◽

Parelaphostrongylus Tenuis ◽

Aspartyl Protease Inhibitors

ABSTRACT Parelaphostrongylus tenuis is a neurotropic nematode common in white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) of eastern North America. This parasite is the causative agent of a debilitating neurologic disease in atypical hosts, including domestic livestock. In order to identify proteins of potential significance in the host-parasite relationship, a cDNA library was produced from adult P. tenuis mRNA. Screening the library with antisera from infected red deer (Cervus elaphus elaphus) and immunized AO strain rats, we identified clones with sequence similarities to aspartyl protease inhibitors from several parasitic nematodes. Antibody that was generated against this recombinant protein of P. tenuis (Pt-API-1) detected the native protein in E/S products, in muscle and gonad, and on the surface of the cuticle of adult male and female P. tenuis. The native protein was detected in internal structures of first-stage (L1) and third-stage (L3) larvae. Reverse transcription-PCR confirmed expression of Pt-api-1 in L1, L3, and adult male and female worms. Expression of Pt-API-1 throughout the life cycle of P. tenuis suggests an essential function. Antibodies specific for recombinant Pt-API-1 were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in sera from 12 red deer experimentally infected with P. tenuis. Antibodies were detected within 28 to 56 days postinfection. Responses were sustained or biphasic in animals with patent infections, consistent with expression of Pt-API-1 by L1. Our results are compatible with findings in other parasitic nematodes showing that aspartyl protease inhibitors are highly immunogenic.

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Seasonal patterns of growth, voluntary food intake and plasma concentrations of prolactin, insulin-like growth factor-1, LH and gonadal steroids in male and female pre-pubertal red deer (Cervus elaphus) reared in either natural photoperiod or constant daylength

Animal Science ◽

10.1017/s1357729800015162 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 62 (3) ◽

pp. 605-613 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

C. L. Adam ◽

C. E. Kyle ◽

P. Young

Keyword(s):

Growth Factor ◽

Food Intake ◽

Red Deer ◽

Plasma Testosterone ◽

Plasma Prolactin ◽

Insulin Like Growth Factor ◽

Male And Female ◽

Natural Photoperiod ◽

Lh Secretion ◽

Voluntary Food Intake

AbstractRed deer calves were reared from birth to 16 months in either constant intermediate 12L: 12D daylength (ID) or in natural photoperiod (NP) (four males and four females per group) to investigate effects on the somatotropic and reproductive axes, and to compare responses between the seres. Measurements, starting from 3 months (September), were made each week of live weight (LW), voluntary food intake (VFI), plasma prolactin, plasma insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), and plasma progesterone (females), and every 2 months of pulsatile LH secretion, plasma testosterone (males), responses to exogenous GnRH, and antler development (males).Both sexes in ID compared with NP had significantly higher LW gain (males, P < 0·001; females, P < 0·01) and VFI (P < 0·001) between winter solstice (WS) and spring equinox (SE), and VFI between SE and summer solstice (SS) (males, P < 0·05; females P < 0·01). Both sexes had significantly lower plasma prolactin concentrations in ID than in NP (males, P < 0·05; females, P < 0·01) between SE and SS. However, plasma IGF-1 was only significantly altered in males, being significantly higher in ID than NP between WS and SE (P<0·01). ID and NP females showed no significant differences in pulsatile LH secretion nor in the timing of pubertal ovulation. However, ID compared with NP males at 10 months (just after SE) had higher LH and testosterone pulse frequencies (P < 0·01), and at 12 months (just before SS) had higher mean testosterone concentrations (P < 0·01) and testosterone response to GnRH challenge (P<0·001). ID antlers hardened earlier at 11 months than NP antlers at 14 months (P < 0·001).Thus ID compared with NP in both sexes prevented the winter reduction in growth and appetite and the summer elevation in prolactin secretion, and in males, but not in females, stimulated higher IGF-1 secretion in winter, an earlier increase in LH pulse frequency, and an earlier increase in gonadal steroid production. This study has therefore revealed some intriguing similarities and contrasts in the responses to photoperiod shown by young male and female deer.

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