The Effects Of Living Environment And Different Artificial Feeding Methods On Physiological Functions Of Elk

Elk(Elaphurus davidianus)is a rare animal in the world,belonging to the deer family.It is named neither fish nor fowl,as it has a head like a horse,a horn like a deer,a hoof like a cow.and a tail like a donkey.Due to the research that involving elk is short in China and the foundation is relatively weak,especially the samples involving the comparison of living environment between several regions are very rare,therefore,we need further explore the effect of the living environment on the physiological change of elk.In this paper,Firstly,we compared the estrous cycle,the farrowing time range,the abandonment rate,the dystocia rate,the disease type,the element contain of antler,the blood physiological changes,and the hair change cycle and the frequency of the deer king replacement in the Beijing Nanhaizi Miluyuan and Dafeng Elk Nature Reserve and the Hangzhou Bay coastal area.Furthermore,we analyzed how the temperature,relative humidity,precipitation,pressure,sunshine,plant species,feeding methods,and other factors impacted physiological phenomenon of the elk.Our results will provide a basis for the selection of the elk habitat for reduction of diseases and deaths in the living environment and for better protection to elks.1.Comparative study on the natural environment of three elk protection areasIn order to understand the influence of the natural environment on the periodicity and evolutionary physiological changes of the elk,we compared the soil salinity,pH,temperature,and air among three areas including Beijing Nanhaizi Miluyuan,Jiangsu Dafeng Elk Nature Reserve and Zhejiang Hangzhou Bay National Wetland Park.Relative humidity,precipitation,sunshine hours,average pressure,distribution of water flow,distribution of plant species,distribution of animal species,the elk's estrous cycle,the elk's litter time,moulting cycle time,the elk's resolving angle and the velvet peeling time,the elk dystocia rate,the female deer's baby abandon phenomenon,the deer king's replacement frequency,the inorganic elements of velvet antler,and the blood routine index,The results showed that Beijing Nanhaizi Miluyuan and Jiangsu Dafeng Elk Nature Reserve had low soil salinity,while soil salt content from Zhejiang Hangzhou Bay National Wetland Park was between 0.4-0.6%,pH value 8.1-9.7,and it isthe typical saline-alkali wetlands,The monthly average minimum temperatures of the three areas were-2.9?,2.7?,and 5.8?,respectively in January,and the highest temperatures were 27.3?,27.9? and 30.4?,respectively in July;The monthly average relative humidity of the three areas was very similar in July-October.In other months,Beijing Nanhaizi had the lowest relative humidity,the relative humidity of Jiangsu Dafeng Elk Nature Reserve was the highest,and relative humidity of Zhejiang Hangzhou Bay was in the middle level.For average monthly precipitation in the three areas,Beijing Nanhaizi Miluyuan was at an intermediate level in all months excepting July,while the rest places was the lowest in all year.The Jiangsu Dafeng Elk Nature Reserve had the highest monthly average precipitation from July to August.In other months,Zhejiang Hangzhou Bay National Wetland Park had the highest monthly average precipitation.The monthly average sunshine time of the three places was basically the same from July to December.In other months,the average sunshine time of Beijing Nanhaizi Miluyuan was the longest,that of Jiangsu Dafeng Elk Nature Reserve was the second,and that of Zhejiang Hangzhou Bay National Wetland Park was the lowest.For monthly average pressure of the three areas,Zhejiang Hangzhou Bay National Wetland Park was the highest in July,in the other months,Jiangsu Dafeng Elk Nature Reserve was the highest,Zhejiang Hangzhou Bay National Wetland Park was the second,Beijing Nanhaizi Miluyuan was the lowest.For distribution of rivers flow,flora and fauna were the lowest in Beijing NanhaiZi Miluyuan,followed by Jiangsu Dafeng Elk Nature Reserve,and the highest in Zhejiang Hangzhou Bay National Wetland Park.Therefore,the living environment for elks in three area are significantly different.The estrous cycle of the three-year-old elk was relatively stable.The estrus time of the deer in Beijing Nanhaizi was generally from May to August every year,and the peak was June.The estrous cycle of the elk in the Hangzhou Wetland Park in Zhejiang Province was earlier than the initial time value and was longer than the ending time value..The birth time of the elk in the three places was consistent with the estrus cycle.For the elk moulting cycle in the three areas,the loss of winter hair in the Nanhaizi Miluyuan in Beijing was generally from March to May,and the shedding time was usually from September to December.Winter hair loss of elk in Zhejiang Hangzhou Bay National Wetland Park obviously appeared ahead of time,while the shedding of summer hair was obviously delayed.The time of exfoliation and detachment of eks in three areas were consistent with the moulting cycle.The dystocia rate in three places was as follows,Zhejiang Hangzhou Bay National Wetland Park was the highest,Beijing Nanhaizi Miluyuan was the second,Jiangsu Dafeng Elk Nature Reserve was the lowest.For baby abandon rate of female deer in the three areas,Beijing Nanhaizi of Beijing Nanhaizi Miluyuanand Jiangsu Dafeng Elk Nature Reserve were about 4%,Zhejiang Hangzhou Bay National Wetland Park had a drop rate of 60%-0%.The frequency of the deer kings replacement in three areas was different.The number of elk in Beijing Nanhaizi Miluyuanand Jiangsu Dafeng Elk Nature Reserve was more,the way of deer king replacement was ended once within one estrus cycle.The number of elk was less in Zhejiang Hangzhou Bay National Wetland Park,the way of deer king replacement was ended twice within one estrus cycle.In the Jiangsu Dafeng Elk Nature Reserve and Zhejiang Hangzhou Bay National Wetland Park,the inorganic element contents of deer antlers were the highest,while the lowest was that of elks in Beijing NanhaiziMiluyuan.There was no significant difference in blood routine data of elk among the three areas except for hemoglobin.2.Comparative study on different artificial feeding of young elkwe compared the effects of artificial feeding,dairy products,weaning time and the use of drugs on the growth of the young elks.The results showed that more balanced feeding of dairy products were chosen in the Zhejiang Hangzhou Bay National Wetland Park,and the weaning time was 174 days.At the same time,the growth and development of the deer were more rapid,the physical condition was better,and the disease was mild in comparison to the elks in other two areas.In conclusion,the natural environment and feeding pattern had a significant effect on the periodicity and degenerate physiological changes of the elk.