PRODUCTION STRATEGY AND ITS EFFECT ON SPOTTED DEER AT NATIONAL ZOO IN BANGLADESH

Abstract

The production and reproduction profile, feeds and feeding and herd management of spotted deer studied in captive condition at Bangladesh National Zoo in this experiment. For these purposes, fifteen (15) deer’s from each group i.e. adult male (Stag or buck), adult female (Doe), juvenile and infant were used during January 15

to December 15 th 2018 for a period of eleven months. Available feeds that were supplied to the spotted deer such as maize fodder, Jambu grass and Gourd Spinach (Kolmi grass), cabbages, cucumber, gourd, pumpkin, grain, wheat bran and soybean meal. Amount of CP and metabolic energy was 13.63% and 14.38 MJ ME per day respectively. From the study it was observed that average males and females’ birth weights were 2.97 and 2.73 kg, adult males and females weights 78.08 and 60.97 kg, males and females weaning weights were 19.05 and 18.49 kg respectively. It was also observed that average weaning age was 5.19 months, length of estrous was 17. 40 days, age at first fawning was 14.48 months and gestation lengths were 232.69 days respectively. It is concluded that recommended rations need to be fed with proper management systems to keep balanced nutritive conditions along with productive and reproductive well-being of the spotted deer at Bangladesh National Zoo.