The parameters of the weight and linear growth of young Red deer of Altai-Sayan breed

Abstract

Conformation features of animals, which are the external expression of the constitution play an important role in breeding work they can be judged on the productivity of the animal and the general state of the organism. The data on live weight, measurements and body indices of young Red deer of Altai-Sayan breed in LLC “Niva” in the Altai Republic have been presented in the article. The purpose of the research was to identify the features of growth and development of young Red deer of Altai-Sayan breed. Two groups of 10 animals in each have been formed. In the 1st group were included males, in the 2nd – females from birth to 18 months of age, which have been kept under the same conditions of feeding and housing. Studies have shown the gain in live weight of young animals in the period from birth to one and a half years. At the end of the experiment males had a live weight of 168,5 kg and surpassed females by 20,4 kg. Data on the average daily, absolute and relative gains in the live weight of young Red deer have been also obtained. The absolute gain in live weight in males from birth to the end of the experiment was 152,0 kg, and in females it was 132,6 kg. The relative gain from birth to the age of 6 months was 136,50 % in males and 141,44 % in females, while from 12 to 18 months it decreased to 26,35 % in males and 30,23 % in females. Comparative analysis of measurements of the two groups has shown that males were taller and larger than female Red deer during the whole period of studies by 3–6 %.