Influence of Lysine and Methionine on first antler growth in Dama dama

Veit Ny

Master's thesis

Abstract:

Objectives of thesis:Supplementation of amino acids is a topic of great interest in monogastrics, but a totally new researcharea for ruminants since it has been traditionally assumed that is not necessary to supplement them inruminants. Recent research have shown that Methionine and Lysine are the limitng essential amino acidsfor ruminants. Among them, Lysine seems especially interesting for growing ruminants because it isa main component of collagen, precursor of bone tissue; for the same reason, it is also especiallyimportant for cervids because of the production of antlers. Only few studies carried out on deersupplemented these limited amino acids. However, the results were not conclusive since all them werelimited in the number of animals. Fallow deer is known as the most farm species in Europe. Thus, ourobjective was to study the effects of the supplementation of ruminally protected amino acids in a largeherd of fallow deer yearlings, focusing on the effects on antler growth and characteristics.Methodology:Up to five groups of farmed fallow deer will be subjected to different nutrition treatments along the antlergrowth period: Pasture; Pasture+Barley; Pasture+Barley+Lys (two formulations); Pasture+Barley+Lys+Met. Once finished, the animals will be culled and antler will be collected. Different parameters will be measured including external antler characteristics (antler length, antler weight, antler burr); internal antler characteristics (cortical bone diameter, cortical bone area, density); mechanical properes (Young’s Modulus, Bending strength, work,impact) and chemical composition (Ca, P, Mg, Na, K, S, B, Cu, Fe, Mn, Sr and Zn). The mechanical and chemical analyses will be done in a specialised lab in Albacete (Spain). Differences are expected to occur among the studied treatments.

Keywords

Antler structure, Body condition, Chemical composition, Fallow deer, Mechanical properties, Ruminally Protected Amino Acids

Language used: English

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 27. 4. 2018

Thesis defence

• Supervisor: doc. Francisco Ceacero Herrador, Ph.D.

Czech University of Life Sciences Prague

Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences

Master programme / field:
Tropical Agriculture / Animal and Food Sciences in Tropics and Subtropics