Bone formation and body composition of European elk: an ontogenetic model

Metapodial and femur measurements were gathered on 8 female and 12 male western European elk (Alces alces [L. 1758] alces) skeletons in four osteological collections in Scandinavia. Additional variables such as carcass and bone weight as well as metacarpal measurements recorded on 43 females and 47 males hunted in Central Sweden were completed by metatarsal measurements available for 28 female and 29 male individuals of the same sample. These bones were divided into two gross age groups on the basis of epiphyseal fusion. Sex-dependent development of the metapodial bones was studied in terms of longitudinal growth and in relation to carcass weight and a number of important carcass characteristics. While metacarpals in both sexes grow at a slower rate relative to carcass weight than do metatarsals, skeletal development is more intensive in young females resulting in mature forms at a smaller absolute size. Analysis of the two sets of data was completed with parameters of dissection statistics from the literature and integrated into an ontogenetic model. A 100 to 140 kg carcass weight interval was found critical both in terms of weaning and the onset of sexual maturation.