Slaughter of deer.

Deer farming in the British Isles is in its infancy but the industry is growing. Deer farmers retail their own venison from the farm having shot individual deer at close range as they graze. Although the method of killing is effective, humane and does not alarm the other deer, it is primitive. It is essential that as the industry expands, the normal retail channels used by the producers of other livestock be opened to deer farmers by means of appropriate legislation. Research into the special needs in slaughterhouses for deer is being undertaken, particularly in the lairage and devising a safe humane means of delivery to the point of slaughter. At the slaughter unit on Glensaugh experimental deer farm, a captive bolt pistol is used in a specially designed stunning pen. The carcases are prepared for sale in skin to the game trade, but environmental conditions are unsuitable for preparation of red meat for sale. However in-skin carcases have been transferred later to the red meat trade and prepared as boned out convenience packs.

Procedures and equipment for the production and rearing of gnotobiotic lambs.

38 gnotobiotic lambs have been derived by hysterectomy and reared for up to 7 months as true ruminants. 10 cases of contamination have occurred, 4 of which were attributable to a breach in the protective barrier and 1 to a contaminated food pack. The technique permits the use of liquid and solid foods and the regular taking of rumen and other samples, and also regular removal of all excreta and the cleaning of lambs and cages.

Toxoplasmosis in farmed red deer (Cervus elaphus) in Scotland.

Farming of red deer began in Scotland in 1970 when an experimental nucleus was established on a hill farm in Kincardineshire. From 1972 to 1977 sera from these animals were tested by the haemagglutination test (HA) and the Sabin-Feldman dye test (DT) for the presence of antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii. Overall, dye test antibodies (greater than or equal to 1/16) were detected in 32.5 per cent of sera and HA antibodies in only 9.8 per cent. On average 14.1 per cent of the deer tested in 1972, 1973 and 1975 were DT positive while a sharp rise to 51.4 per cent was noted in the 1974 animals. These antibody titres were not sustained nor were they reflected by the HA. Marked animals bled serially throughout the survey confirmed the general low level of antibody in the herd and the spasmodic rise in 1974. Experimentally infected deer showed a rise and subsequent fall in DT antibody levels with persistently low HA titres. Since the correlation between HA and DT antibody titres was generally poor the HA would be of limited value in screening for Toxoplasma antibody in farmed red deer sera. The direct agglutination test was used to examine selected sera and the results indicated its potential screening value.

Cerebrocortical necrosis in ruminants: effect of thiaminase type 1-producing Clostridium sporogenes in lambs.

Large numbers of orally inoculated thiaminase type 1-producing Clostridium sporogenes failed to establish in the alimentary tract of two conventionally born lambs. Conversely, when similar inoculations were given to two gnotobiotic lambs, large populations of Cl sporogenes established in their rumens and correspondingly high levels of thiaminase were produced. No clinical symptoms of thiamine deficiency or cerebrocortical necrosis were seen despite the presence of high levels of thiaminase in the rumen of one of the gnotobiotic lambs for a period of 86 days.

Observations on the calving of free-ranging tame red deer (Cervus elaphus).

Calving was observed in 27 farmed red deer, most of which were calving for the first time. On average, parturition lasted 107 min and the placenta was released 98 min after calving. The postnatal development of 23 calves was watched. On average, the first sucking occurred 33 min after birth and the calves were able to stand 47 min after birth. There was wide variation in these times. Male first calves had a mean weight of 6.59 kg and females a mean weight of 6.00 kg, weighed dry after the first sucking. Out of 50 hinds put to the stag at 16 months of age, when their mean weight was 66 kg, 48 calved. None of 56 pregnant hinds, of which 50 were in their first pregnancies, died at calving time. Calf losses were 3 born dead and a further 6 which died soon after calving: these losses were 16.1% of pregnancies and 11.3% of calves born alive.

The isolation and characterization of a Babesia from red deer (Cervus elaphus).

On three occasions, antibody positive blood from wild red deer produced overt infections with Babesia when inoculated into splenectomized red deer. One of the deer also became infected with Eperythrozoon sp. Babesia divergens, B. capreoli and the Babesia of red deer are morphologically similar and the marginal position of the parasites in the host cell is characteristic. Babesia were not seen and no antibody was formed in five out of six splenectomized bovine calves which were injected with parasitaemic red deer blood. Two of these calves when challenged with B. divergens were fully susceptible. A transient infection with the deer Babesia may have occurred in the sixth calf since antibody was detected and the animal resisted challenge with B. divergens. In indirect fluorescent antibody tests there was little or no difference in the titre of sera from naturally or experimentally infected cattle and deer when reacted with B. divergens or the red deer Babesia antigens. Despite their similarities, specific status for B. divergens and the red deer Babesia is probably justified; at present there is insufficient evidence to justify separation of the red deer Babesia from B. capreoli.