Growth Characteristics of Artificially Reared Sika Deer (Cervus nippon)

概要

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Body weights of 21 artificially reared sika deer (Cervus nippon), including 10 males and 11 females, were measured from birth until 24-36 months of age, and the data were analyzed. The increases in body weights of the males and females from birth to 3 months of age were almost the same. However, the rate of increase in body weights of males became greater than that of females after 4 months of age, and this difference became greater with the advance of age. The rate of increase in body weights of females, but not of males, became asymptotic after 30 months of age. A significant inter-family difference was found in body weights of the deer from 4 to 12 months of age, suggesting the influence of genetic factors on growth rate. Significant differences between sexes, but not between families were found in rate of maturing, body weight at the inflection point on the logistic growth curve and growth rate. The inflection points on the logistic growth curves for males and females, which were thought to indicate the onset of puberty, were 8.5 and 7.3 months of age, respectively.
社団法人日本畜産学会の論文
2001-11-25