Selected oxygen transport parameters in captive elk

Five captive elk (cervus canadensis) were immobilized with a mixture of etorphine HC1-acepromazine maleate, and measurements were taken of selected oxygen transport paraments. Heart mass/body mass, hematocrit, hemoglobin, blood volume, mean corpuscular volume and airway resistance were measured and the values compared to other ungulates. It was concluded that the O2 transport system of elk is not as well developed as that in pronghorn but is superior to that found in the goat or ox.