Importance of Copper Supplementation in Farmed Red Deer

Abstract

Very high liver copper concentrations were measured in the fetuses and neonates of different deer species: 2168mg/kg DM in roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), 1570mg/kg in red deer (Cervus elaphus), and 624.5mg/kg in fallow deer (Dama dama). Farmed male red deer showed marginal liver copper content (9.7mg/kg). Copper concentrations of neck hair in the same farmed herd decreased from 9.4 to 12.1 to 1.5 to 4.2 mg/kg in 1988-89, indicating copper deficiency. These findings suggested the necessity of copper supplementation in farmed red deer.