Chemical and mineral composition of antlers and bones of red deer (Cervus elaphus) reared under Volyn conditions

This article presents the results of studies on the content of major minerals in antlers and selected bones (cranial, costal) of the skeleton of red deer (Cervus elaphus). The chemical and macroelement composition was determined in the antlers of male deer from three populations (English, Hungarian, and Latvian crossbreed), which were reared at the specialized farm “Amila” in Volyn. For the study, the first antlers of young deer (aged 1–2 years) and ossified antler beams of males aged 6–7 years were examined. For comparison, similar analyses were conducted on available biomaterial from deer maintained in an enclosure with extensive grazing areas (over 2000 ha). The study revealed that the chemical composition of deer bones varied depending on rearing conditions. The proportion of organic matter in the cranial bone of animals kept on the farm tended to be higher than that of deer maintained under semi-free conditions. In the costal bone, the concentration of organic substances was greater than in enclosure-reared deer. The lowest moisture content was observed in cranial bone. The fat content in the first antlers of young deer of the English population was 45.9 % higher compared to Latvian crossbreed animals. Regarding crude protein levels in antlers, Hungarian and Latvian crossbreed deer showed higher values, while the English population exhibited the highest ash content. When comparing the chemical composition of antlers between young and older males, it was found that fat levels in the antler tissue of 1–2-year-old English and Hungarian deer were higher than in 6–7-year-old males by 17.4 % and 45.6 %, respectively. Young Latvian crossbreed deer demonstrated a 5.6 % higher level of total ash. The weight of antlers, as well as the concentration of certain minerals, showed considerable variation among individuals and was largely influenced by age and living conditions. The total weight of antlers in 6–7-year-old animals (English population) kept under semi-free enclosure conditions averaged 4260 g, which was 194 g (4.7 %) more than in farm-reared animals. The heaviest antlers were observed in Latvian crossbreed deer, while the lightest were found in males of the Hungarian population. It was established that the concentration of calcium and phosphorus ions in ossified antlers of 6–7-year-old deer ranged from 160.4 to 180.7 g/kg and from 76.7 to 80.84 g/kg of wet weight, respectively. Both calcium and phosphorus levels were the highest in Latvian crossbreed deer and the lowest in the Hungarian population. The weight of the first antlers of young male deer ranged from 588.4 to 644.6 g. It was confirmed that the content of calcium and phosphorus in antlers decreased with age. Their concentrations in the antlers of 1–2-year-old males were 31.4 % and 37.6 % higher, respectively, compared to ossified antlers of 6–7-year-old males. In addition, the concentrations of other studied elements, particularly Mg, Na, and S, decreased with age, whereas potassium (K) increased. The calcium ion content in ossified antlers was higher than in cranial bone, while phosphorus was lower. The levels of other analyzed minerals (Mg, Na, K, S) were relatively similar.