The effect of winter nutrition on growth of young Scottish Red deer (Cervus elaphus)

Publication Type:Journal Article
Year of Publication:1983
Authors:R. Alexander, MN, Jayes, AS, Suttie, JM, Hamilton, WJ
Journal:Journal of Zoology
Volume:201
Pagination:135-152
Date Published:1983
ISBN Number:1469-7998
Keywords:Cervus elaphus
Abstract:

The dynamic similarity hypothesis postulates that different mammals move in a dynamically similar fashion whenever they travel at speeds that give them equal values of a dimensionless parameter, the Froude number. Thus, given information about one species, it could be possible to predict for others relationships between size, speed and features of gait such as stride length, duty factor, the phase relationships of the feet and the patterns of force exerted on the ground. Data for a diverse sample of mammals have been used to test the hypothesis. It is found to be tenable in many cases when comparisons are confined to quadrupedal mammals of the type described by Jenkins (1971) as “cursorial”. Most mammals of mass greater than 5 kg are of this type. Although the hypothesis applies less successfully to comparisons between cursorial and non-cursorial mammals it is shown to be a reasonable approximation even for such comparisons and for comparisons between quadrupedal mammals and bipedal mammals and birds.Compared with European Red deer, Scottish Red deer stags are remarkably small. Previous research has shown that this may be primarily due to nutritional, rather than genetic reasons. The present study tested the hypothesis that poor nutrition, especially during the first winter of life, prevented the stags from reaching their genetic potential size. The study was carried out at Glensaugh Research Station on 20 newly weaned Red deer assigned to either of two groups, one fed a high plane of nutrition during the winter, the other a low plane. The trial began in December 1977 and in May 1978 both groups were released into a 200 acre paddock. In September 1978 some of each group were slaughtered. Despite considerable compensation by the low plane winter nutrition group there were significant differences in live weight, antler length and carcass weight at slaughter. It is considered that Scottish Red deer stags reach the maximum size that the environment can maintain despite this being far below their genetic potential.

URL:http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7998.1983.tb04267.x
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