Mating management and reproductive activity of intensively farmed red deer

A.R. Bray, R.W. Kelly

Invermay Agricultural Research Centre, Mosgiel

Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production. 1979, 39: 94-99

Aspects of mating behaviour and calving performance as influenced by age of hind and composition of mating groups are presented. All observations relate to herds joined in paddocks of 10 ha or less. At mating, definite dominant-subordinate relationships existed between stags. In herds with fewer than six stags present, one stag controlled a harem containing the majority of hinds and performed all observed mating. In herds with six or more stags, the control exerted over the hind herd by the dominant stag was not so marked but he still performed most of the mating. Calving records indicated that some stags sired more than 70 calves each. Rising 2-year-old hinds were mated later than older hinds, resulting in a mean calving date 6 to 12 days later than older animals, and their calving percentages were 15 to 19% lower than for older hinds.

Keywords: NZSAPAB;

Last Updated 12-09-1998