Breeding Deer & Camelids

The Deer Calendar

1 = calving
2 = introduce stags to hinds
3 = rut
4 = stags removed

What happens in April? (run up to calving)

Turn out housed stock
Clostridial vaccine (given 6-8 weeks before calving) —> antibodies in colostrum so passed on to offspring

Between what months does calving occur?

between May and July

What happens in September? (after calving)

Calves: Wean & house —> stags too aggressive to be around calves during rutting season

Hinds: Form breeding groups

Stags: De-antler & introduce one stag to each hind group —> de-antler so that it is safer when stags fight

At what age does a deer calf get sold?

15-16 months

selling happens between October & November

When does a stag become fully fertile? How much will it weigh when fully mature?

16-18 months

(target weight = 100kg @ 1 years old)

150-220 kg fully mature

will gain weight in summer and decrease during rut

Ratio of stag:hinds for multi-sire vs single-sire mob

1:10 multi-sire mob

1:50 single-sire mob

What is the visual evidence of mounting during rutting season?

Mud marks (on flank)

How long is a deer's oestrus cycle?

What is a deer's gestation length?

Oestrus:

Red deer = 18d

Fallow = 21 d

Gestation:

Red deer = 231 d

Fallow = 234 d

What type of ultrasound is used for pregnancy diagnosis in deer?

Transabdominal

What are the features of hinds during gestation?

Primary CL, secondary CL in 45-60% —> higher progesterone levels in hinds that have secondary CL

Twinning rare

6-10 placentomes over both uterine horns

What is the optimum body condition score needed for optimum conception rate in hinds?

> 65kg BW

___ is very rare in deer parturitions

Dystocia

Causes of dystocia in hinds

High BCS of hind

Malpresentation —> shoulder/carpal joint flexion (long limbs make birthing hard)

Calf too big compared to size of hind

Calving usually occurs in the ____

daytime

How long are the labour stages of a hind?

Stage 1 —> approx 4hrs

Stage 2 —> avg. 20 mins

Stage 3 —> 15 mins - 4hrs

After birth, how long does it take for the calf to:
- stand
- seek udder
- suckle?

40 mins
18 mins
<30 mins

In the first few days, the young will ____ and the hind will return ___

hide in grass
1-7 times a day

calf follows from 3 days on

What weight are majority of calves likely to die?

< 4kg

What are common causes of calf mortality

Starvation > dystocia > misadventure > infection

At what age and weight should a calf be weaned from the hind?

40 days old
25 kg

Anatomy of female alpaca repro tract

r = rectum
v = vagina
u = uterus
t = horns
y = ovaries
b = bladder
m = mammary glands/teats

short uterine body, long vagina

Describe alpaca cervix

Has soft tissue protrusions into lumen of cervix

When do ovaries become active in alpacas?

From ~ 6months old

active ovaries will have follicle present

inactive ovary very small in comparison to active

In comparison to other species, alpaca testes are ___

Very small, held close to body

0.02-0.03% of BW

cf ram = 1.4%

cf bulls = 0.18%

Low sperm reservoir = low mating capacity per day so chance of achieving conception decreases after second service (should only do 2 serves/day)

At what age does spermatogenesis occur in alpacas

> 12-18 months old

Penis in camelids is held by a ___ which holds it in place until testosterone levels are high enough

Preputial attachment

Describe the penis of an alpaca

Fibro-cartilagenous projection

Sigmoid flexure —> points caudally when flaccid, points cranially when ready to mate

Alpacas are ___ ovulators

Induced

if not exposed to male, then follicles will regress

total cycle 12-20 days

In what recumbancy does alpaca mating occur?

Sternal recumbancy

Orgling

Spitting off

Sound made by alpacas during mating —> induces ovulation

Female spits at male to indicate she isn't receptive (follicle has regressed) —> ovulating in response to mating

At what age and weight should the first breeding of an alpaca occur?

≥ 12 months old

if reached 65% of mature BW

breed once when receptive

How can spitting off be used to assess if camelid is in calf?

• Spit-off at 7 days to check for ovulation

• Spit-off at 14 days to check for conception

• Spit-off every 2-4 weeks, until ultrasound

• Spit-off intermittently throughout gestation

Doesn't always work in maiden females i.e. females who are first time breeders

What type of placenta does a camelid have?

What is a camelids gestation length?

Diffuse

345 d +/- 14

PD of camelids is done through the...

Flank

Very thin rectal membrane - should be avoided in most occasions

Describe the energy change (nutrition needed) during gestation of an alpaca

When should clostridial vaccine be given in camelids? What else needs to be considered at this time

8 weeks before due date

check for mange

consider worming

vitamin supplements

Birthing in camelids usually happens during what time of day?

Daytime

Dystocia in camelids is ___

rare

Length of labour stages in camdelids

Stage 1 —> 2-4hrs

Stage 2 —> avg. 15mins

Stage 3 —> 1-3hrs

Epidermal membrane in alpacas

Attaches around coronary bands and nostrils
Sometimes folds over nostrils - must be removed

When will cria be weaned? Why is it important to weigh cria?

6 months old

Cria don't bleat/moan unlike calves and lambs so need weighing to identify milk intake

Describe the weight gain of cria in the first 3 months of life

1st month = double birthweight

2nd & 3rd month = 5kg/m

What type of oestrus cycle do hinds have?

Seaosonal polyoestrus