Seasonal antler cycle in a herd of pampas deer ( Ozotoceros bezoarticus) in Uruguay

Abstract

To describe the yearling antler cycle of pampas deer bucks ( Ozotoceros bezoarticus) 22 bucks and 72 antler cycles have been studied in a semi-captive population. Date of individual antler cast, first day on which the brow and the trez tine were observed, and day of the velvet shedding were registered. Time intervals (days) between first and second antler casts, between first antler cast and the brow tine observation, between brow and trez tines observation and from first antler cast to velvet shedding were calculated. The brow and the trez tine were first observed 22.8±0.6 and 45.9±0.9 days after the first antler cast. Velvet shedding was observed 103.3±2.1 days after the first antler cast. Both antlers casts were observed earlier in adult cycle bucks than in first antler bucks, although the interval between both casts was not different. The interval from the brow tine observation to the trez tine observation was shorter in first antler cycle bucks than in adults. As in other deer species, antler cycle was seasonal, but persistence of cycle-to-cycle antler growth well into adulthood is different from what occurs in most deer species.