Resumo

GONZALEZ SALDIVAR, Fernando N. et al. Assessment of weight increment of white-tailed fawns fed with different milk formulas. Rev. mex. de cienc. forestales [online]. 2013, vol.4, n.17, pp.72-83. ISSN 2007-1132.

The study was conducted at the Centro de Mejoramiento Genético de Venado Cola Blanca of the Centro de Producción Agopecuario, UANL where weight and growth of deer fawns were evaluated since birth, by recording body measurements and weight during lactation. Three groups were formed: the first was fed milk replacer: Kitzenmilch^® and the second with Lactoplex^®, the third group was fed with goat milk through a feeding routine default; bodily measurements were made: total length, chest girth, wither height, among others, correlating these with weight and age. The average weaning weight was 17.22 ± 3.69 kg for all groups, showing significant differences between the group fed with goat milk = 21.21 ± 1.98 kg compared to the groups fed with Lactoplex^® and Kitzenmilch^® (P ≤ 0.05 ). In addition, significant differences were found in the groups fed with Lactoplex^® = 16.73 ± 1.56 kg and Kitzenmilch^®, 13.88 ± = 2.68 kg (P ≤ 0.05), which did not happen between males and females (P ≥ 0.05). In conclusion, the group of fawns fed with goat milk was the fastest growing, obtaining significant differences in regard to the other care groups.

Palavras-chave : Fawns; weight increment; milk formulas; goat milk; Odcocoileus virginianus Zimmermann 1780; with-tailed deer.