Red Deer Research Articles

Assessment of the metabolic profile of the Altai-Sayan breed

Antler reindeer breeding is an industry for breeding red deer, and the most economically valuable species is maral. Currently, two regions are cultivating the primary livestock in the Russian Federation - the Republic of Altai and the Altai Territory. The growth of antlers and their biological properties depend on the physiological status of the deer organism, which is determined by analysing the biochemical composition of blood serum. The experimental part of the study was conducted in the production conditions of the maral breeding farm of Shagym LLC in 2023. During the study, the authors found a decrease in liver enzymes (AST, ALT, alkaline phosphatase) by the age of 12 in maral-stag by 32%, 22% and 10%, respectively. The most intensive protein metabolism was determined in stags at 7–8 years. During the analysis of the glucose level in stags, depending on age, an increase in carbohydrate metabolism from 4–6 to 7–8 years old by 4% is noted, and from middle-aged to senior animals, it decreases by 4%. The triglyceride amount in the blood serum from 4 to 8 years increases by 11% and then reduces by 13% by 12 years. An increase in cholesterol content was found in stags aged 9–12 years; the difference between 4–6 and 7–8-year-olds was 14 and 7%, respectively. As a result of the study, the higher calcium content in the blood serum of young male marals was revealed - 3.59 mmol/l. The difference between the middle group was 20% and the adult 7.5%. The level of phosphorus in the blood serum of old (9–12 years old) and young stags (4–6 years old) is in the same range and is 1.4 mmol/l, which is 4% more than in the middle age group (7–8 years old)). The research results demonstrate the need to study the biochemical composition of blood serum to assess animals’ physiological status and metabolism and timely eliminate damaging violations in case of non-compliance with normative age indicators.

Comparative studies of X chromosomes in Cervidae family

The family Cervidae is the second most diverse in the infraorder Pecora and is characterized by variability in the diploid chromosome numbers among species. X chromosomes in Cervidae evolved through complex chromosomal rearrangements of conserved segments within the chromosome, changes in centromere position, heterochromatic variation, and X-autosomal translocations. The family Cervidae consists of two subfamilies: Cervinae and Capreolinae. Here we build a detailed X chromosome map with 29 cattle bacterial artificial chromosomes of representatives of both subfamilies: reindeer (Rangifer tarandus), gray brocket deer (Mazama gouazoubira), Chinese water deer (Hydropotes inermis) (Capreolinae); black muntjac (Muntiacus crinifrons), tufted deer (Elaphodus cephalophus), sika deer (Cervus nippon) and red deer (Cervus elaphus) (Cervinae). To track chromosomal rearrangements during Cervidae evolution, we summarized new data, and compared them with available X chromosomal maps and chromosome level assemblies of other species. We demonstrate the types of rearrangements that may have underlined the variability of Cervidae X chromosomes. We detected two types of cervine X chromosome—acrocentric and submetacentric. The acrocentric type is found in three independent deer lineages (subfamily Cervinae and in two Capreolinae tribes—Odocoileini and Capreolini). We show that chromosomal rearrangements on the X-chromosome in Cervidae occur at a higher frequency than in the entire Ruminantia lineage: the rate of rearrangements is 2 per 10 million years.

Is the Intrasexual Competition in Male Red Deer Reflected in the Ratio of Stable Isotopes of Carbon and Nitrogen in Faeces?

Isotopic analysis of carbon and nitrogen in faeces is a reliable methodology for studying ecology in wildlife. Here, we tested this technique to detect variations in carbon and nitrogen isotopic ratios (δ13C and δ15N) in two different intrasexual competition scenarios of male Iberian red deer (Cervus elaphus hispanicus) using faeces of individuals collected during hunting actions in South-eastern Spain. The carbon isotopic ratio (δ13C) was not found to be significant, likely due to similar diet composition in all individuals. However, the nitrogen isotopic ratio (δ15N) was found to be lower in populations where sexual competition between males during the rut was higher compared to low-competition populations. Therefore, this study suggests a different use of proteins by an individual male red deer depending on the sexually competitive context in which he lives. Although further research is needed, these results show the potential of isotopic analysis as a tool for studying individual and populational variations in the level of intrasexual competition, with implications in evolutionary ecology and population management.

Molecular and serological survey of bovine viral diarrhea virus infection in cattle in Kazakhstan

The aim of this study was to estimate the occurrence of bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) infection and to assess the population immunity in cattle vaccinated against BVDV in different regions of Kazakhstan. Cattle samples were collected in 12 oblasts (43 districts) of Kazakhstan. A total of 2477 cattle from 114 herds and 21 Bukhara deer (Cervus elaphus bactrianus) were examined by ELISA and conventional RT-PCR. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify risk factors associated with BVDV infection in the country. In total, antibodies against BVDV were found in 79.3% (1965/2477) of all the animals and 92.1% (105/114) of all the herds examined. Seroprevalence in unvaccinated and vaccinated animals was 48.6% (447/920) and 98.7% (1391/1410), respectively. Seroprevalence in deer was 19.1% (4/21). The BVDV RNA was detected in six unvaccinated cattle (0.2%). Sequence analysis of the 5′-untranslated region demonstrated that four of the detected strains belonged to BVDV-1 and two strains to BVDV-2. Regression analysis revealed that age, production type, housing method, farm size, and geographic location were risk factors for BVDV infection in cattle in Kazakhstan. The present data confirm circulation of BVDV-1 and BVDV-2 in Kazakhstan and highlight the need to improve strategies for prevention and control of BVDV infection in the country.

Comparison between cavernous sinus and jugular vein as post mortem sampling sites for blood metabolic profiles in wild red deer (Cervus elaphus)

Collection from jugular vein (JV) or intrathoracic cavity is the traditional procedure for blood sampling dead wildlife, but it is often source of preanalytical biases. Cavernous sinus of dura mater (CS) is an alternative site for withdrawal that may help to solve these issues but it has been used only for serology, while no data are available for biochemistry. This work compares metabolic profiles from CS and JV blood in red deer Cervus elaphus, to evaluate the usability of CS for metabolic profiling. A total of 134 deer were sampled in the frame of a culling program within the Stelvio National Park (Central Italian Alps). Hemolysis was statistically lower in CS than JV with 88% vs 44% of samples suitable for biochemistry. Thirty-six couples of poorly hemolytic sera were used for biochemical analysis: total protein, albumin, urea, triglycerides, total cholesterol, non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), betahydroxybutyrate (BOHB), calcium, and phosphorus. Statistical differences were found for protein, albumin, cholesterol, and calcium; agreement was found for urea, NEFA, BOHB, and phosphorus while for total protein, albumin, cholesterol, and calcium, CS showed lower concentrations with both constant and proportional biases. These results may be related to a higher impact of water dilution in CS. Although the lower protein concentration in CS cannot significantly influence the serological results, caution is required for potential false negative results when antibody levels are close to cut-off values. CS leads to a higher percentage of samples suitable for metabolic profiles but results should be compared with adequate reference intervals.

The effect of age and sex on carcass traits and body composition of Hungarian yearling farmed red deer (Cervus elaphus hippelaphus)

Carcass characteristics were studied in 80 young Hungarian red deer in different ages (12, 15, 18 and 20 months of age). In all age group 10 male and 10 female were slaughtered. The dressed carcass weight in skin varied between 53.72 and 65.66% of live weight. The first class lean meat varied between 14.3 and 16.6% of live weight.The live weight, carcass weight increased with the age and differed also between sexes. The highest dressing percentages were found at 20 months of age in both sexes (♂: 65.7%, ♀: 62.5%). Mainly the hinds had higher loin, leg and shoulder proportions of carcass at 20 months of age than the stags.The carcass muscle, bone and fat content were measured by computer tomography. These traits were grown and their proportion changed with the age. The bone to muscle ratio gradually decreased with the age while the fat to muscle ratio increased after 15 months of age (♂: from 0.13 to 0.17, ♀: from 0.15 to 0.18). At 18 month of age the hinds had higher bone to muscle and fat to muscle ratio than the stags'.The fat percentage of carcasses increased with the age in both sexes (♂: from 8.01% to 11.04%, ♀: from 8.40% to 11.28%). The hinds had higher values than the stags but it was significant just at 20 months of age.From the meat quality attributes there were found differences between ages in the case of pH, lightness, drip loss, cooking loss and shear force. The highest pH was found at 12 months of age in both sexes. There were found 5% intermediate pH (6.2 < pH < 5.8) at 12 and 15 months of age, all of them were male. The highest lightness values were observed at 18 months of age in both sexes (♂: 13.47, ♀: 14.90). There were differences between sexes in pH at all ages, except 15 months of age, and at 18 months of age in redness and lightness.Based on our results, the optimal slaughtering time for Hungarian red deer is 20 months of age, because this is when the dressing percentage is the best for both sexes. Meat quality traits changed with age, and gender differences sexes were the most pronounced for these traits at 18 months of age.

Coastal and Inland subsistence strategies during the Gravettian in the Cantabrian Region (northern Iberian Peninsula)

The Gravettian site of Fuente del Salín Cave is located in the northern Iberian Peninsula (Cantabrian Region, Spain). In 2016, excavations conducted at the site yielded numerous faunal remains, including mammals and fish. Researchers also recovered molluscs remains during the 1990, 1991, and 2000 campaigns. This study presents the results of the archaeozoological and taphonomical analyses of the large mammals and fish remains recovered during these excavations. At Fuente del Salín Cave, a high level of bone fragmentation and the presence of burning damage characterizes the faunal assemblage. Taxonomy of large game shows diverse habitat exploitation, such as coastal valleys and plains (red deer, Cervus elaphus; horse, Equus ferus) as well as rocky landscapes (Iberian ibex, Capra pyrenaica; and chamois, Rupicapra rupicapra). Additionally, fish remains show the presence of salmonids (Salmo sp.), cyprinids, and haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus), indicating the exploitation of coastal, demersal, and riverine species. The taphonomic analysis of the mammals revealed burning damage concentrated on axial elements and epiphyses, characterized by temperatures typical of carbonization or calcification. The scarcity of carnivore gnawing marks and the presence of butchering marks prove that humans were the main accumulators at Fuente del Salín Cave. Concerning fish, most remains correspond to spines, branchial spines, ribs, and vertebrae, indicating humans processed fish by removing these elements for consumption. Based on our results, Fuente del Salín Cave provides an essential record of the subsistence strategies of the inhabitants of the Cantabrian Region during the Gravettian.

Morphological and dietary adaptations to different socio-economic systems in Chalcolithic dogs

Dogs have cohabited with humans since the Upper Paleolithic and their lifestyle and diet during late prehistory probably already depended on the role they played in past societies. Here, we used a combination of stable isotope analyses and three-dimensional geometric morphometrics to test for differences in, and associations between, diet and mandibular morphology based on 150 dogs of three sites of the Chalcolithic Gumelniţa culture in Romania (4550–3900 cal. BCE) characterized by different socio-economic systems. At Hârşova-tell and Borduşani-Popină, where the subsistence economy is mainly based on herding, dogs have a variable diet that is rich in domestic animals (sheep, cattle, pig) and may contain fish. In contrast, at Vităneşti-Măgurice, where hunting predominates, the diet of dogs is more specialized towards large game (red deer, aurochs, wild horse), reflecting the composition of human food refuse. Moreover, dogs have more robust (but not larger) mandibles at this site with shapes suggesting a greater importance of the temporal muscle important for the capture of large prey and the breaking of large bones. The strong covariation between mandible shape and stable isotope signatures suggests functional adaptations to diet. Overall, our results support the idea that prehistoric dogs adapted to human lifestyles.

A novel two-stage bio-inspired method using red deer algorithm for data clustering

A novel two-stage bio-inspired method using red deer algorithm for data clustering

An osteometric analysis of elk (Cervus elaphus manitobensis) from Great Smoky Mountains National Park

AbstractTeeth are commonly preserved in the zooarchaeological record and can be used to estimate the age of individuals in a faunal assemblage. However, there are currently no criteria for discerning the sex of elk based on dental metric characteristics. Here, we present the results of an osteometric analysis of modern elk (Cervus elaphus manitobensis) from Great Smoky Mountains National Park to create an age profile for the sample, establish metrical parameters for evaluating sex, and discern the relationship between age and size. The analysis of tooth development stages in younger elk was combined with the assessment of occlusal wear in older elk to create an age profile of our sample population. The length and breadth of mandibular third molars produced bimodal distributions that suggest these measurements can be used to differentiate sex in this population, and diastema length showed a curvilinear association with age (R2 = 0.71). This dataset provides a useful comparative sample for future studies on ageing and sexing in zooarchaeology, conservation paleobiology, and wildlife resources management.

Retinoic acid alters metalloproteinase action in red deer antler stem cells.

Metalloproteinases (MMP)s regulate developmental processes, control angiogenesis and wound healing, participate in the formation of immune receptors, and are expressed in stem cells. Retinoic acid (RA) is a potential modulator of these proteinases. The aim was to determine (1) MMPs' action in antler stem cells (ASCs) before and after differentiation into adipo-, osteo-, and chondrocytes and (2) the effect of RA on modifying MMP action in ASCs. Antler tissue from pedicle was collected approximately 40 days after antler casting, post mortem from healthy breeding five year old males (N = 7). The cells were isolated from the pedicle layer of periosteum after skin separation and cultured. The pluripotency of the ASCs was evaluated by mRNA expression for NANOG, SOX2, and OCT4. ASCs were stimulated with RA (100nM) and differentiated for 14 days. The MMP (1-3) and TIMP(1-3) (tissue inhibitor of MMPs) mRNA expression was determined in the ASCs, their concentrations in the ASCs and the medium after RA stimulation as well as profiles of mRNA expression for MMPs: 1-3 and TIMPs: 1-3 during differentiation of ASC to osteocytes, adipocytes and chondrocytes. RA increased MMP-3 and TIMP-3 mRNA expression and output (P < 0.05) and not influenced on MMP-1 and TIMP-1 mRNA expression and output in ASC (P > 0.05). Depending on differentiation of ASC to osteocytes, adipocytes or chondrocytes, MMPs`and TIMPs`expression profile fluctuates for all studied proteases and its inhibitors. The studies demand continuation considering the role of proteases in stem cells physiology and differentiation. The results may be relevant for the study of cellular processes during the cancerogenesis of tumor stem cells.

Multiomics Strategy Reveals the Mechanism of Action and Ameliorating Effect of Deer Velvet Antler Water Extracts on DSS-Induced Colitis.

Velvet antler is a precious traditional Chinese medicine used for thousands of years. This study investigated the anti-colitis effects of water extracts of Formosan sambar deer (SVAE) and red deer (RVAE) to identify the possible mechanisms and the bioactive compounds using a dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis mouse model. The mechanism of action and the ameliorating effects of SVAE and RVAE on DSS-induced colitis were evaluated using a mouse model. Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-mass/mass and gas chromatography-mass/mass were applied to identify the bioactive components of the SVAE and RVAE water extracts. The results revealed that both high-dose SVAE and RVAE could ameliorate the symptoms of colitis due to reduced systemic inflammatory responses, enhanced intestinal barrier integrity by restoration of tight junction proteins, and improved gut dysbiosis. The potentially bioactive components of SVAE and RVAE were identified as small molecules (<3 kDa). Further identification by untargeted metabolomics analysis suggested that l-carnitine, hypoxanthine, adrenic acid, creatinine, gamma-aminobutyric-lysine, oleic acid, glycine, poly-γ-glutamic acid, and eicosapentaenoic acid in VAWEs might be involved in ameliorating the symptoms of colitis. This study provided evidence for the potential usage of SVAE and RVAE as anti-colitis agents.

Quantifying the distribution and potential biotic interactions between deer and flora using species distribution modelling

ABSTRACT Invasive species are ranked as one of the leading drivers of global biodiversity loss. To mitigate their impact, we must understand the future risks caused by invasive species, particularly to flora of conservation concern. Here we used species distribution modelling (SDM) to project the current and future (RCP45 and RCP85 2050) distributions of four deer species and 13 plant species of conservation concern for the island of Ireland, quantifying changes in distributions and overlap. Large areas of suitable habitat for the deer species were predicted with high accuracy across all counties, with future climate scenarios identifying an expansion in sika deer distributions and a decrease in muntjac and fallow deer distributions. Red deer declined under the moderate climate change scenario but increased under the worst-case projection. Future projections predicted the (local) extinction of six (out of 13) endangered and vulnerable plant species. An expansion in distributions was observed for four plant species; however, these areas had large overlap with the future predictions of deer, placing further pressures on these plant species. These findings suggest that targeted conservation and management measures are required to alleviate the pressures on ‘at-risk’ plant species due to grazing from native and non-native deer.

Optimal Data Placement for Scientific Workflows in Cloud

ABSTRACT The deployment of datasets in the heterogeneous cloud computing has received increasing attention in current research. However, due to their large sizes and the existence of private scientific datasets, finding an optimal data placement strategy remains a persistent problem. The primary goal of this work is to discover an optimum placement while satisfying the security demand (SD) at the lowest cost. To effectively address this problem, a security-based optimal workflow scheduling (OWS) is proposed for privacy-aware applications over data. During negotiation, the user can submit the SD to the cloud. This work is initialized with list-based heuristics with Particle Swarm Hybridized Red Deer (PSRD). The proposed system can assign tasks for the scientific workflow in the cloud according to the virtual machine (VM). The results show that the workflow schedule provides better security yielding good makespan than the conventional methods with minimum iteration suited for a cloud environment.

O45 Relationship between plasma and saliva urea nitrogen in New Zealand red deer calves (Cervus elaphus)

O45 Relationship between plasma and saliva urea nitrogen in New Zealand red deer calves (Cervus elaphus)

Invasive wild deer exhibit environmental niche shifts in Australia: Where to from here?

Invasive species have established populations around the world and, in the process, characteristics of their realized environmental niches have changed. Because of their popularity as a source of game, deer have been introduced to, and become invasive in, many different environments around the world. As such, deer should provide a good model system in which to test environmental niche shifts. Using the current distributions of the six deer species present in Australia, we quantified shifts in their environmental niches that occurred since introduction; we determined the differences in suitable habitat between their international (native and invaded) and their Australian ranges. Given knowledge of their Australian habitat use, we then modeled the present distribution of deer in Australia to assess habitat suitability, in an attempt to predict future deer distributions. We show that the Australian niches of hog (Axis porcinus), fallow (Dama dama), red (Cervus elaphus), rusa (C. timorensis), and sambar deer (C. unicolor), but not chital deer (A. axis), were different to their international ranges. When we quantified the potential range of these six species in Australia, chital, hog, and rusa deer had the largest areas of suitable habitat outside their presently occupied habitat. The other three species had already expanded outside the ranges that we predicted as suitable. Here, we demonstrate that deer have undergone significant environmental niche shifts following introduction into Australia, and these shifts are important for predicting the future spread of these invasive species. It is important to note that current Australian and international environmental niches did not necessarily predict range expansions, thus wildlife managers should treat these analyses as conservative estimates.

Dynamic edge server placement in mobile edge computing using modified red deer optimization algorithm and Markov game theory

Dynamic edge server placement in mobile edge computing using modified red deer optimization algorithm and Markov game theory

A comparison of the quality of meat from female red deer (Cervus elaphus L.) and roe deer (Capreolus capreolus L.)

The aim of this study was to compare the chemical composition and physicochemical and sensory properties of meat (m. longissimus lumborum, LL) from wild-living female red deer (Cervus elaphus L.) aged 4 - 6 years (15 animals) and female roe deer (Capreolus capreolus L.) aged 3 - 5 years (20 animals). The animals were hunter-harvested in the forests of north-eastern Poland. The LL muscle of roe deer was characterized by a higher (P0.05) content of dry matter, total protein and fat, and a higher (P0.05) pH value. In turn, the LL muscle of red deer had a higher (P0.05) contribution of redness and yellowness, a more intense (P0.05) taste, and higher (P0.05) juiciness scores. The quality of meat from both cervid species was very high, and none of them can be considered superior in that respect based on the noted differences.

Лось (Alces alces) на південній межі ареалу: стан популяції Центрального Полісся, хижацтво вовка та вразливість до потепління клімату

In the latter less hot years after the decline in the number of elk (2019–2020), the stabilisation and increasing trend in the number of this species have been observed throughout the study area. Due to migrations, the winter elk population exceeds the summer one and amounts to 2 individuals/thousand hectares (40 individuals; against 1.3 individuals/1 thousand hectares in summer) in the Polissia Reserve, and 1–6 individuals/1 thousand hectares (940 individuals) in the Chornobyl Reserve. Data on the vulnerability of elk to climate change are presented. In hot weather at different times of the year, elks may show signs of heat stress. In summer, elk can be inactive, and in the leafless period, when chased by wolves, they can get heat stress and die. In the heat of the day, elk choose swamps, waterlogged forests with a dense tree canopy and better cooling, which are comfortable for these ungulates in the face of global warming. Climate change causes marshes to dry up and overgrow, reduces the moisture content of habitats, and worsens the fodder capacity of the land. In case of even partial restoration of lowland marshes in the Chornobyl Biosphere Reserve, the reserves of summer and winter food for elk may increase by 2–3 times. In the Polissia Reserve, in 2011–2013, lowland bogs with bush willows (Salix) were restored on fallow land near the Zholobnytsia drainage system, creating highly productive habitats for the elk, which is a promising measure for different areas of Polissia. Climate warming has led to an increase in the red deer (Cervus elaphus) population and a decrease in the elk population in the Polissia, and if no special measures are taken, these trends will intensify. Outside of protected areas, given the lack of a high legal status for wolves (Canis lupus), a strategy for conserving the elk population and reducing predation mortality in combination with other elk habitat management strategies can be recommended to hunting ground users, including limiting poaching, restoring the natural regime of forest fires in reserves, improving winter provision of branch fodder, reducing the disturbance factor, and introducing a ban on staying in the forest with dogs for berry and mushroom pickers.

Red Deer Optimisation-Based Delay Minimisation for mmWave Communication System Enabled with Mobile Edge Computing

Mobile edge computing (MEC)-oriented solutions are essential for various 5G wireless communication systems. It is considered a key technology for future communication systems because of its capability for fulfilling a broad variety of necessities of the developing wireless terminals in the form of Intelligent Vehicles, augmented reality and virtual reality devices like huge computation, low latency and high data rate. Further, the resource package has made the research on mobile data offloading. One probable novel spectrum in the subsequent generation networks is the millimetre wave (mmWave) communication systems. It attains important attention because of its high rate. This research work, this area focuses on the delay of minimisation strategy in mmWave MEC by jointly optimising the hybrid beam-forming and also resource allocation. Here, the utilisation of a well-performing Red Deer Algorithm (RDA) is the ultimate aim of the suggested model that intends to optimise the analogue beam-forming vectors at the users, the analogue and digital beam-forming matrices at the Base Station (BS), the computation task offloading ratios and resource allocation at the MEC server. Here, the minimisation of the delay or latency is attained. The comparative analysis of the proposed model over the other models demonstrates the superiority of the proposed algorithm in assisting the mmWave MEC system.