Effects of Calcium Chloride Injection on the Induction of Antlerogenesis by Breed in Female Deer

Abstract

This study has performed to investigate the effects of CaCl2 solution injection on artificial induction of antlerogenesis in female deer by breed. The rate of induction, yield of antler, length of antler, number of point, growth pattern of antler, and influence on the reproduction and regeneration of antler were investigated under treatments of 1 ml, 1.5 ml and 2 ml of 30% CaCl2 solution for six females each in sika deer, red deer and elk using injection onto the putative region of antlerogenesis. In sika deer, antlerogenesis was induced only in case of 1 ml of CaCl2 30% solution, but was not induced in 1.5 ml and 2 ml. In red deer, antlerogenesis was induced in 2 ml treatment, but was not induced in 1.5 ml and 2 ml. The rate of antlerogenesis was 8.3% in female sika deer and red deer altogether. In elk, antlerogenesis was induced in 1.5 ml and 2 ml but not in 1 ml, and the rate of antlerogenesis was 67%. The antler which was induced in 1 ml of 30 % CaCl2 solution after 110 days was 21 cm and 70g in sika deer, and 18.5cm and 83g in red deer, respectively. The antler which was induced in 1.5 ml of CaCl2 30% solution at March was average 334 ± 3 cm and 526 1008g, and the antler which was induced in 2 ml of 30% CaCl2 solution at July was average 32 ± 1 cm and 399 600 g in elk. The average antler yields per female deer in 1.5 ml and 2 ml was 1,653±379g and 999g in spring and fall, respectively. The growth of antler by the CaCl2 treatment in female elk was 0.5 1 cm long after 20 days injection, 1 3 cm after 40 days, and full-scale grew after 60 days. When the antler was cut after 120 days, the length was 28 44 cm. The upper 70% of the antler was not ossificated. The shape of antler was determined not by the area of injection, but by method of injection. The induction of antlerogenesis did not influence on the reproduction at all, and regeneration of antlers in spring time was irregular, and the regeneration rate was 45 and the length and yield decreased as the cycle progressed. In conclusion, the optimum volume of 30 CaCl2 solution for artificial induction of antlerogenesis in female elk was 1.5 2 ml.