Growth and reproductive performance of sambar deer in Sabal Forest Reserve of Sarawak, Malaysia

Abstract

We examined the growth, reproduction, rutting behavior, and health status of sambar deer (Cervus unicolor brookei) in secondary Acacia mangium plantation. The data were collected over 11 years from a breeding herd of 21 stags and 33 hinds in Sabal Forest Reserve, Sarawak, Malaysia. Brody's growth model of the pooled data is Y t = 148.56 (1 - 0.98e(-0.023t)), which estimates that maximum weights of adults are 184 and 115 kg for males and females respectively. Sambar deer are nonseasonal breeders with the breeding peak in February. Although the earliest age at which a female reached sexual maturity was 11 months, the mean age was 23 ± 7 months. Mean age of first fawning was 32 ± 8 months. Mean gestation period was 259 ± 12 days (n = 82). Stags shed antlers mostly between March and July. Velvet hardens at 103 ± 27 days (n = 23), and velvet harvesting is best at 7-9 weeks when antler length is 25-30 cm. Sambar deer are suitable as a farm species in forest plantations and have a vast potential to uplift rural living standards.

Browsing preference and ecological carrying capacity of sambar deer (Cervus unicolor brookei) on secondary vegetation in forest plantation

“…() was used to determine the MEA in the acacia plantation according to the availability of secondary vegetation, and ECC was estimated based on BW and the physiological stages of the animals according to ECC models (Dahlan et al . ; Dahlan ; Dahlan & Dawend ).…”

“…Dahlan () indicated that deer farming in existing plantations and with marginal vegetation is feasible if a tropical deer species were used. Sambar deer are suitable as a farm species in forest plantations (Dahlan & Dawend ).…”

“…This study will emphasize browsing patterns, selection and behavior of sambar deer in a forestry plantation system. Understanding the aspects of feeding behavior is important for the successful management and conservation of indigenous sambar deer of Sarawak, Borneo Island (Dahlan & Dawend ). Most ungulate browsing studies focus on impacts on tree seedlings, debarking and saplings rather than general understory vegetation (Masuko et al .…”

Effect of Testosterone on Antler Growth in Male Sambar Deer (Rusaunicolor unicolor) in Horton Plains National Park, Sri Lanka

“…They go through an annual cycle of rapid growth in preparation for the rutting season and are casted after the season (Munk, Garrison, Clemons, & Keel, 2015). They are casted and regrown from a blastema annually into three branched structures of cartilage and bone that are used for sparing and attraction in adult sambar deer (Dahlan & Dawend, 2013; Lin et al, 2014).…”

“…Estimating the hormone levels using fecal steroid assays provide a non-invasive method and have the capacity to develop long-term means of determining adrenocortical, testicular hormones in many vertebrate taxa(Spratt, Spratt, Bauman, & Chandler, 2018). Today the animal behavioral changes are possible to relate with changes in physiological processes (Dahlan & Dawend, 2013).…”