Assessment of Genetic and Non-Genetic Factors Related to Survival Probabilities of Farmed White-Tailed Deer Neonates

Abstract Text:  Data collected (n= 830) from White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus, Texanus) fawns was analysed to estimate the importance some non-genetic and genetic factors related to Fawns Survival (FS) of captive White-tailed deer (WTD) neonates, by logistic and animal model approaches. The observed overall survival of neonatal WTD fawns was 85.2%. Year, litter size (LS) and service type had significant effect on FS (P≤0.01).  BW effect on FS, indicated that for LS an optimum BW exists at fawning. Residual variance explained ~86% of variation of FS. Direct and maternal heritabilities and permanent maternal environmental proportion estimates were 0.13±0.079, 0.00±0.000, 0.00±0.000, respectively. Results highlighted the importance of some non-genetic factors on FS, and their inclusion in management system to improvement of survival. Estimates of direct heritability suggested sufficient additive genetic variation for inclusion of FS into genetic improvement programs of farmed WTD.

Keywords:

birth weight,

genetic parameters

litter size

Odocoileus virginianus