Comparison of analgesic techniques for antler removal in wapiti.

The purpose of this research was to compare the effectiveness of ring block anesthesia (LA) and electroanesthesia (A) for antler removal in elk given a long-acting tranquilizer to remove stress from restraint. Thirty-two male wapiti were given 1 mg/kg body weight of zuclopenthixol acetate; the next day, they were restrained in a hydraulic chute, provided with electroanesthesia or a lidocaine ring block, and had their antlers removed. Behavioral response to antler removal was scored. Significantly more (P = 0.032) animals responded to antler removal in the EA group. Heart rates and arterial pressures were measured by a catheter connected to a physiological monitor. Heart rate increased significantly over time with EA, but not with LA. Heart rate increased from baseline significantly more in the EA group immediately prior to antler removal (P = 0.017), immediately post antler removal (P = 0.001), and at 1 min post antler removal (P = 0.037). It was concluded that EA is not as effective a method of anesthesia as is LA for antler removal.     

Ryegrass staggers in Canadian wapiti deer

Extract

Sir:- We would like to report an outbreak of ryegrass staggers in Canadian wapiti (Cervus elaphus mannitobensis) which occurred at the Invermay Agricultural Research Centre, Mosgiel. As far as we are aware this is the first recorded case of ryegrass staggers in deer associated with grazing perennial rye grass (Lolium perenne L.).     

Comparison of lidocaine and compression for velvet antler analgesia in wapiti

This research compared ring block lidocaine anesthesia (L) and compression (C) for velvet antler removal in elk. Thirty-two wapiti were given 1 mg/kg body weight of zuclopenthixol acetate. The next day, they were restrained in a hydraulic chute and given either a compression device or a lidocaine ring block on the antler pedicle. Behavioral and physiological responses to treatment application and antler removal were recorded, and blood was collected for cortisol analysis. During application of L and C, increases in mean heart rate and systolic arterial blood pressure were greater in the C treatment group (P < 0.05, and P = 0.05, respectively). When antler was removed, more behavioral responses occurred in the C treatment group (P = 0.02) and its median behavior score was higher (P = 0.03). Mean heart rates increased for both treatment groups when antlers were removed (P < 0.01). It was concluded that application of C may be painful, and that C was not as effective as L for analgesia for velvet antler removal.     

Four cases of chondrodystrophy in fallow deer.

The gross and microscopic pathology in four cases of chondrodystrophy in a herd of captive fallow deer is described. The gross pathology was similar in all cases with shortening of all the bones, especially of the limbs, but at the microscopic level two distinct types of abnormality were present in the epiphyseal plates. In one type there was failure of proliferation of chondrocytes and in the other proliferation and vascularisation were irregular.     

肃南鹿场甘肃马鹿生产性能研究

1999-2001年调查了肃南鹿场甘肃马鹿的基本情况.甘肃马鹿的鲜茸产量随鹿龄增长分为,产茸量快速增加阶段(1～6岁)、产茸量缓慢增加阶段(6～11岁)和产茸量下降阶段(11岁以后).总体上呈凸抛物线变化,11岁达到产茸高峰,鲜茸产量与体重,饲养群数量与鹿茸总产量极显著正相关(P＜0.01).甘肃马鹿体型在我国8个马鹿亚种中属中等偏下,幼鹿的体长指数和头长指数低于成年鹿,肢长指数和管围指数高于成年鹿,幼公鹿的胸围指数和体躯指数高于成年公鹿,但幼母鹿则低于成年母鹿,成年鹿体尺指数的性别差异大于幼鹿.1999和2000年适龄母鹿的繁殖率和繁殖成活率平均分别为61.5%和55.6%,母鹿繁殖率在3～5岁间逐渐增加,5岁马鹿最高,此后随着年龄的增加总体上呈下降趋势,但6～9岁之间下降幅度较小,意外伤害和疾病是影响繁殖成活率的两大因素.甘肃马鹿饲养群结构基本呈正金字塔型,不合理出售是甘肃马鹿饲养群性比和年龄结构失调的主要因素.甘肃马鹿的性比结构与鹿茸价格有正相关联系,性比的变化周期在8年左右,可以用作鹿茸市场预测.公鹿在6岁以前体重随年龄呈指数增加,1岁公鹿的体重可达60 kg左右,屠宰后产出/投入为4.26,具有发展成为肉用型家畜的潜力.肃南鹿场高山草原-甘肃马鹿生产系统通过完善生产层次,经济效益提高3.3倍,效益波动降低2.7倍.根据调查结果,结合甘肃马鹿发展预测,提出6项研究与生产建议.     

IDO在梅花鹿茸角中的表达及对鹿茸软骨细胞分化的影响

以梅花鹿茸角为研究对象,通过原位杂交方法检测吲哚胺2,3-双加氧酶1(IDO1)和吲哚胺2,3-双加氧酶2(IDO2)在茸角中的表达。在培养的鹿茸软骨细胞中分别添加IDO1抑制剂1-甲基-L-色氨酸(1-L-MT)和IDO2抑制剂1-甲基-D-色氨酸(1-D-MT),作用24h后,通过荧光定量PCR方法检测软骨细胞分化标志分子Ⅹ型胶原(ColⅩ)表达的变化,进一步研究IDO1和IDO2对鹿茸软骨细胞分化的影响。结果显示:IDO1和IDO2主要在鹿茸真皮层成纤维细胞、间充质细胞和软骨细胞中表达。用浓度分别为200μmol/L和100μmol/L的1-L-MT和1-DMT处理鹿茸软骨细胞24h后,荧光定量PCR结果显示,ColⅩmRNA在鹿茸软骨细胞中的表达量均显著下降。结果表明:当IDO的活性受到抑制时,鹿茸软骨细胞的分化过程也受到明显抑制,IDO可能在梅花鹿鹿茸软骨细胞分化过程中起重要的作用。     

梅花鹿鹿茸异位生长研究

为了揭示鹿茸发生机理,阐明生茸区骨膜在鹿茸发生中的作用,选择4只1周岁雄性梅花鹿,在鹿茸发生前,通过外科手术将一侧完整的生茸区骨膜摘除并移植到额骨上。结果,摘除骨膜的生茸区没有发生鹿茸,而在被移植的额骨部位上发生了鹿茸且生长发育正常。证明了生茸区骨膜是鹿茸发生的组织基础,同时为通过异位生茸提高鹿茸产量开辟了新的途径。     

Chemical analgesia for velvet antler removal in deer

There is a legal requirement to provide analgesia for velvet antler removal in New Zealand. Currently, this is achieved using local anaesthetic blockade, with or without systemically administered sedative/analgesic agents, or by compression in 1-year-old stags. Lignocaine hydrochloride 2% is most commonly used and is most effective when administered as a high-dose ring block. Combinations of various amino-amide local anaesthetic agents can achieve rapid onset and prolonged duration of analgesia, though concerns about drug residues and carcinogenic potential of a lignocaine metabolite have led to consideration of the amino-ester family of local anaesthetics as alternatives. Systemically administered analgesics, including opioids, alpha-2-adrenergic agents and ketamine provide dose-dependent sedation and analgesia. However, none are sufficient, alone or in combination, to produce surgical analgesia at currently recommended dose rates and when reversal agents are given, analgesic effects are usually reversed as well as sedation. Thus, local anaesthetic blockade is still indicated, though the potential for drug or drug-metabolite residues in velvet antler remains a concern. The need for and effectiveness of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for post-operative analgesia requires investigation. Amitriptyline, locally administered opioid agonists, tramadol and other systemically administered agents may warrant future investigation for surgical and post-operative analgesia for velvet antler removal.     

Welfare of farmed deer in New Zealand. 2. Velvet antler removal

This paper reviews published data on welfare aspects of stag restraint and velvet antler removal, and prevention of antler growth. Several studies of physical restraint and handling demonstrate behavioural and physiological changes both during and after velvet antler removal. Interpretations vary as to whether the act of velvet antler removal imposes a welfare cost additional to that of handling and restraint alone. Chemical restraint presents immediate and delayed welfare risks to the animal. Surgical removal of velvet antler can be achieved without acute pain using a high dose rate of local anaesthetic applied as a ring block, rather than as regional nerve blocks, provided the wait time is adequate. However, there is evidence of less than optimum reproducibility. Lignocaine hydrochloride produces rapid analgesia of short duration, whilst bupivacaine has a delayed onset, but longer duration of analgesia. Mepivacaine has a rapid onset and intermediate duration of analgesia. Mixtures of long and short-acting local anaesthetics provide rapid onset and long duration of analgesia. Present methods for electronic analgesia are aversive and not sufficiently effective. The efficacy and possible aversiveness of compression techniques for inducing analgesia of antlers are currently under evaluation. Post-operative pain and the need for its control have been insufficiently researched. Post-operative sequelae are uncommon, but include clostridial infection. Antler growth in most stags can be prevented by rubber-band application to the growing pedicle, although behavioural changes after ring application suggest this practice may be painful. The procedures used for velvet antler removal, and whether practices are acceptable on the balance of welfare costs and benefits, should be reviewed on an ongoing basis as science, using an increasing range of techniques and measures, provides more data about the welfare implications of this practice.     

Osteochondrosis associated with copper deficiency in young farmed red deer and wapiti x red deer hybrids

Osteochondrosis is reported in association with copper deficiency in young red deer and wapiti x red deer hybrids on eight deer farms throughout New Zealand. On two farms, more than 30% of fawns were affected. Affected animals were lame, often had one or more swollen joints, and in some cases had an abnormal “bunny-hopping” gait or “cow-hocked” stance. Lesions were most common in the carpal, tarsal, stifle and hip joints, and were usually bilateral. Defects in articular cartilage ranged from loose flaps to complete separation with exposure of subchondral bone and the presence of cartilage fragments within the joint space. In advanced cases, the joints had features of degenerative arthropathy. Bilateral epiphyseolysis of the femoral head was observed in some severely lame deer. All deer with osteochondrosis had low serum and/or liver copper concentrations.     

Osteochondrosis associated with copper deficiency in young farmed red deer and wapiti x red deer hybrids

Osteochondrosis is reported in association with copper deficiency in young red deer and wapiti X red deer hybrids on eight deer farms throughout New Zealand. On two farms, more than 30% of fawns were affected. Affected animals were lame, often had one or more swollen joints, and in some cases had an abnormal "bunny-hopping" gait or "cow-hocked" stance. Lesions were most common in the carpal, tarsal, stifle and hip joints, and were usually bilateral. Defects in articular cartilage ranged from loose flaps to complete separation with exposure of subchondral bone and the presence of cartilage fragments within the joint space. In advanced cases, the joints had features of degenerative arthropathy. Bilateral epiphyseolysis of the femoral head was observed in some severely lame deer. All deer with osteochondrosis had low serum and/or liver copper concentrations.     

鹿茸Ca^2＋含量与塔里木马鹿收茸期的关系研究

为了确定不同年龄段塔里木马鹿鹿茸的最佳收茸时间,保证鹿茸的药用价值,试验选取老、中、青3个年龄段的塔里木马鹿各6头,采用火焰原子吸收分光光度法,分别测定不同生茸时期鹿茸中Ca2＋的含量。结果表明：青年组至6月17日鹿茸上段Ca2＋含量增加显著,确定其最佳收茸时间以6月17日为宜;中年、老年组的最佳收茸时期在6月3日左右,三者存在时间差异。