Wintering Habitat Evaluation of Red Deer (Cervus elaphus)in Forest Area of Northeastern China

Six ultimate factors (forage abundance, horizontal sheltering class, distance from human disturbance,snow depth, tree coverage, and edge effect) of Red deer (Cervus elaphus) were investigated in eastern Heilongjiang Province during winter from 1988 to 1991. On the basis of analysis of field data, we evaluated winter habitat conditions of Red deer. The results showed as follows; the wintering habitat quality of Red deer in poplar-birch stands was excellent in the Wanda Mountains, and was moderate in shrub-woods and Korean pine seed stands.According to habitat index (HI) values, the habitat quality in poplar-birch stands (HI=0.8185) was superior to that in shrub-woods (HI=0.4825) and in Korean pine seed stands (HI=0.4385). The wintering habitat quality of Red deer in the Wanda Mountains was superior to that of Daning Forestry Region. According to the current situations of forestry areas in northeastern China, strengthening habitat management was important for the conservation and management of Red deer population in the next decades.

Protein Nutrition in Red Deer (Cervus elaphus)

Red deer can adjust to seasonal change of forage quality to maintain a relatively constant crude protein level (21. 1±4.0, 14.7± 1 .0, 11. 1± 1. 1 and 6.5 ±0.8 in spring. summer. fall and winter. respectively). Apparent protein digestibility is variable from -99.9% to 97.5%, depending upon season and forage type. True protein digestibility is 99%. Digestion of protein is significantly influenced by phenolics in diets.Minimumm digestible energy intase of 153.5kcal/kg0.75/day is necessary to maintain a positive nitrogen balance. Red deer recycles 18-85% of the urea produced and urea kinetic parameters (urea pool size, urea entry rate and urea excretion rate) are correlated to plasma urea conccntration. Rumen NH3-N production changes with season, but seasonal changcs in other NH3-N kinetic parameters (NH3-N concentration, NH3-N pool size and NH3-N outflow rate) are in dispute. Protein metabolism may be promoted in response to cold strcss. Endogenous urinary nitrogen is 0.09 (red deer) and 0. 16 g N/kg0.75day (elk), and metabolic frcal nitrogen is 5.58 g N/kg dry-matter intake. Protein requirements ranges from 100 g/kg DM to 170 g/kg DM for red deer of various ages and physiological stages. In conclusion.the knowledge of protein nutrition of red deer is limite.Much work is urgently needed in metabolism and requirements of protein before the appropriate feeding standard of red deer is coming.

Identification of sika deer and red deer using partial cytochrome b and 12s ribosomal RNA genes

A study was conducted on the identifications of the degraded samples of sika deer （Cervus nippon） and red deer （Cervus elaphus） by phylogenetic and nucleotide distance analysis of partial Cytb and 12s rRNA genes sequences. 402 bp Cytb genes were achieved by PCR-sequencing using DNA extracted from 8 case samples, and contrasted with 27 sequences of Cytb gene downloaded from GenBank database. The values of three nucleotide distance between three suspected samples and sika deer were identical （0.026±0.006）, which was smaller than the smallest nucleotide distance between eastern red deer and sika deer （0.036）. Furthermore, phylogenetic analysis of sika deer and red deer indicated that the evidences located within the same cluster as sika deer. The evidences were sika deer materials. As the same way, other three suspected samples were derived from red deer. The results were further confirmed by phylogenetic and nucleotide distance analysis of 387 bp 12s rRNA gene. The method was powerful and less time-consuming and helpful to reduce the related cases with wildlife.

Digestive Rate of Dongtian F_1 Red Dear in Weaning Period and Growth Period

in this paper, 4N-HCLAIA method was adopted to conduct digestive tests in young female and male Dongtian F1 red deer (Cervus elaphus) of rearing seperatefy in growth period and mixed raising in weaning period in Harbin Specialty Research Institute. Results indicated that digestive rate of crude protein and crude fiber were 95.35% and 73.68% respectively when rational protein content was 26.8% in growth period. Digestive rate was not significantly different between female and male(P>0.05)i During weaning period, When rational crude protein content is 22.06%, digestive rate of crude protein and crude fiber were 93.05% and 63.96%, respectively. The tests suggest that higher rational protein can be effective in accelerating groWth of young Dongtian F1 red deer during growth period and weaning period(before 10 months old).