CONTROLLING ANTLER GROWTH IN A CASTRATED INDOCHINESE SIKA DEER CERVUS NIPPON PSEUDAXIS USING A COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE TRENBOLONE ACETATE AND ESTRADIOL IMPLANT

Janis A. Raines, D.V.M., and Timothy Storms, D.V.M. Abstract: A captive Indochinese sika deer (Cervus nippon pseudaxis) was castrated at the age of 5 yr. The resultant abnormal antler growth over the next few years became difficult to manage from both the veterinary and husbandry standpoints. Using a commercially available trenbolone acetate and estradiol implant marketed for domestic cattle heifers, normal mineralization of the abnormal antlers was achieved along with the expected normal casting. The deer was then maintained for 6 yr using an annual implant regimen. A 5-yr-old male Indochinese sika deer (Cervus nippon pseudaxis) was castrated immediately fol- lowing normal antler casting for the purpose of decreasing conspecific aggression that was be- coming unmanageable. Three months after cas- tration, this deer was beginning to come into velvet again but developed knobby and mal- formed antlers. This abnormal perruque growth caused the deer to suffer significant regular hemorrhage because he rubbed his antlers exces-