Remains of Late Pleistocene reindeer from Chmielewo,northeast Poland

Reindeer (Rangifer tarandus L.) remains in Europe are well represented in Late Pleistocene sites in France, Germany, Ukraine, Poland and other countries. In a chalk mine at Chmielewo (near niardwy Lake, NE Poland) four antlers were recovered. Radiocarbon assays date the fossils to the end of the Pleistocene. All antlers belong to male reindeer. One of the discovered specimens is an uncast antler of the tundra reindeer form, while the others are of the woodland reindeer form. The uncast antler has distinctly visible parieto-frontal fixation of the beam to the skull that confirms its parallel position in relation to the ground.     

The effect of cyproterone acetate on the antler cycle in red deer (Cervus elaphus L.)

The aim of the study was to test the effect of antiandrogen, cyproterone acetate (CA) on the antler cycle in the red deer (Cervus elaphus). CA was administered to three adult red deer stags (Edward, Fuks and Gacek) in weekly intervals. Edward and Fuks were given 600 mg + 600 mg of CA, whereas Gacek was given 600 mg + 300 mg. CA was injected during the hard antler phase: in mid-October (Edward), at the end of November (Fuks) and at the end of January (Gacek). CA caused the antler casting 17 to 22 days after the first injection. In all stags, the casting of antlers was followed by a period of intensive growth of new antlers. Edward was given CA at the end of October. This treatment was responsible for occurrence of the two antler cycles in the year of the experiment. When CA was administered during the middle of the hard antler phase an additional short antler cycle occurs followed by new antler growth. CA treatment in the later part of hard antler phase may cause a prolonged antler cycle.     

Regulierung des Blutdruckes beim Rothirsch (Cervus elaphus L.)

European Journal of Wildlife Research - Drei Hirsche unterschiedlichen Alters und Gewichtes wurden mit verschiedenen Narkotika betäube, die Höhe des Blutdruckes ermittelt und die...     

Reproduction in the red deer female and the effect of oestrogens on the antler cycle and behaviour

Red deer (Cervus elaphus) is a seasonally breeding mammal. The season of reproduction is probably regulated by photoperiod. The rut and the majority of conceptions occur in October. If hind is not allowed to mate the oestrus is repeated at an interval of about 13.5 days. In captivity the mating season is more prolonged and the calving season is extended. The length of gestation is about 235 days. The fat % of milk varies between 6.6 and 17.4. A hind in good condition may attain puberty as 16.5 month old. The smaller doses of stilboestrolum dipropionicum (S, 150-250 mg) induced mainly a female type of sexual behaviour or oestrus. The bigger and more prolonged administration of S (250-300 mg, given twice with a monthly interval) induced a strong male sexual behaviour e.g. roaring, chasing a hind in oestrus, mouting a hind in oestrus or a dummy sprinkled with pheromones and performance of an ejaculatory peak (M). During M the hind was in an almost vertical position and a single ejaculation of saliva was always observed. The artificially induced antlers of hinds without hormonal treatment became broken and their regrowth was very small. After S the velvet was always shed. After larger doses of S the casting was more delayed and the next antler growth was bigger.