Research

Archer, J.A. (2006) How valuable is selection for early calving?

Genetics is often seen as the key to early calving by farmers, and some of the recent research is confirming that Eastern deer do have significantly earlier conception than English genotypes.

But just how valuable is earlier calving? The major benefits proposed from earlier calving are associated with better aligning production with market demand (and so obtaining premiums for animals killed at peak schedule) and with seasonal growth patterns (thereby utilising grass more efficiently).

It should not be assumed that early calving will automatically produce a better fit between pasture growth and animal demand. It is likely that properties with longer winters and later springs will not be as suited to early calving as those with good early spring growth. In the limited scenarios examined, the financial outcome from meeting the spring schedule produced a more profitable outcome even when the alignment between feed supply and demand has not been improved by early calving

de Lacy, H. (1994) Human TB vaccine for deer?

Progress report on the use of human BCG tb vaccine on deer

Pearse, A.J.T. (1988) Hybridisation : not just a new word for problem"."

Fennessy, P.F. (1988) Hybridisation and biological efficiency for venison production in red deer.

Fennessy, P.F. (1994) Hybridisation between red deer (Cervus elaphus) and Pere David's deer (Elaphurus davidianus) : gestation length

Fennessy, P.F. (1991) Hybridisation between red deer (Cervus elaphus) and other deer species.

Moore, G.H. (1989) Hybridisation of farmed wapiti (Cervus elaphus manitobensis) and red deer (Cervus elaphus).

Results of studies on the hybridisation of farmed wapiti and red deer demonstrate that the use of wapiti sires over large red hinds can maximise the birth weight of calf producable and rearable by a red hind

Fennessy, P.F. (1992) Hybridisation of Red Deer and Pere David's Deer

Goosen, D.G. (1998) Hybridisation using Pere David’s (Elaphurus davidianus) and red deer (Cervus elaphus).

Hybrids between Pere David's and red deer have been used as a tool for the rapid identification of genome regions (QTL) associated with production traits in deer. The ultimate aim of this technology is to develop a simple DNA test which can rank animals on genetic merit for a specific trait

Pearse, A.J.T. (1999) Hybridization and Species/Strains in the New Zealand Deer Industry.

This paper reviews the principles crossbreeding that advance biological and economic efficiency.

Asher, G. W. (1988) Hybridization of Pere David's deer (Elaphurus davidianus) and red deer (Cervus elaphus) by artificial insemination.

The present study demonstrates that hybridisation between Red deer and Pere Davids is possible, and discusses possible values the F1 hybrid may have to the deer industry

Drew, K.R. (1988) Hybrids bring home the bacon

The performance of the progeny resulted from Elk bulls put across well grown Red deer hinds

Ingram, J.R. (1998) Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis response to chronic social stress in red deer stags. (Cervus elaphus)

Mackintosh, C.G. (1985) Immobilon/Revivon in Red Deer

Griffin, J.F.T. (1993) Immunological and Molecular Markers which may be used to Distinguish Protective Immunity from Disease in M.bovis Infected Deer