SASKATOON (Staff) – The weight and condition of does at breeding affects her offspring in later years, a veterinarian told a group of game farmers recently.
“The weight at breeding has an incredible downstream effect,” said Jerry Haigh, a professor at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan.
In fallow deer, the fawn’s birth weight will be 10 percent of the dam’s weight at mating.
“The does weight will govern the fawn’s weight.”
As well, recent studies have shown a heavy fallow deer fawn is more likely to survive.
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With each kilogram of increase in birthweight, the weaning weight increases by 3.5 kg.
“By having one kilogram heavier fawns you’ll have 20 percent heavier fawns at weaning,” he told the Saskatchewan Game Farmers Association annual meeting.
The weight continues to be important 16 months later when the does are bred. Only half the fawns will survive to weaning if the doe weighs 34 kg at breeding.
But 86 percent of the fawns will survive to weaning if the does weigh more than 40 kg at breeding.
“It’s important to have a high doe weight at breeding.”
Good pasture is vital, with a supplement to maintain the optimum body weight, especially in summer, when the does require high-energy rations.
“She simply can’t make it on stemmy old pasture,” said Haigh.
