The reproductive performance of farmed fallow deer (Dama dama) in New South Wales

Observations on the reproductive performance of fallow deer on 47 farms in New South Wales were made over 6 consecutive years. The minimum fawning rate for does varied significantly (p less than 0.001) between years, the corresponding fawning percentages varying from 75.0% to 96.4%, with an overall mean of 88.8%. The weaning rate also varied significantly (p less than 0.001) between years, the corresponding percentages varying from 65.0% to 89.1% with a mean over 6 years of 81.4%. Weaning rates were low given the known high fertility of fallow deer. The ratio of male to female fawns at weaning varied significantly (p less than 0.05) between years, although the ratio was exactly 1:1 for all births recorded over the 6-year period. The mean birthweights for female and male fawns were 4.01 kg +/- 0.61 (n = 330) and 4.23 kg +/- 0.72 (n = 348) respectively. Mean birthweights varied significantly (p less than 0.001) between the sexes and between years. There was a greater difference between birthweights of male and female fawns in years with higher mean fawn birthweight. Fawn birthweights generally approximated 10% of the pre-rut weight of their mother. Handling of newborn fawns for tagging and weighting did not increase the chance of mismothering and rejection. The mean weaning weight for doe fawns and buck fawns over 6 years was 18.7 kg (n = 227) and 21.2 kg (n = 231) respectively, with a mean birth to weaning interval of 108.4 +/- 4.89 (n = 458). Growth rates of male fawns from birth to weaning were significantly higher (p less than 0.01) than for female fawns, and the growth rates of fawns were significantly different (p less than 0.01) between years.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)