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An impressive spectacle including stags roaring and fighting, the red deer rut is an important occasion in the species' (Cervus elaphus) lifecycle. Red deer are famous for their elaborate breeding behaviour - at the time of the rut, the herd increases in size as females are joined by young males, closely followed by the large intimidating stags, intent on mating. Hormones rising The rut is crucial for the survival of the young, and the species as a whole, by ensuring that female deer (hinds) have their young in the spring, when food is abundant, Fletcher explained.

Postoperative care included analgesia with buprenorphine (Buprenex; Renckitt Benckiser Pharmaceuticals) at a dose of 0.02 mg/kg given intramuscularly every eight to 12 hours for 48 hours and meloxicam (Metacam; Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica) at a dose of 0.2 mg/kg orally once daily for three days, and empirical antibiotic therapy with penicillin (penicillin G benzathine/procaine; Aspen Veterinary Resources) at a dose of 20,000 IU/kg given subcutaneously daily for seven days. Based on this experience, circular external skeletal fixation appears to be a suitable treatment option for stabilising metacarpal fractures in juvenile deer.

The carcases of 230 wild, culled red deer (Cervus elaphus) were examined for the presence of bullet wounds and permanent wound tracts to determine the prevalence and significance of wounds involving the head, legs or carcase trunk. Head wounds were found in 17 (7·4 per cent) of the carcases and were classified into two groups: nine in which the marksman was considered to have specifically targeted the head, and eight carcases in which the head wound was considered to have resulted from a ‘coup de grace’ shot to dispatch a previously wounded animal. The analysis of the wound data from the carcase trunks, in combination with data collected in a previous study, indicates that the initial wound tracts in all the deer appeared to have lower mean terminal probabilities than subsequent wound tracts, and that this effect is exacerbated during the rut.

The number and sites of permanent wound tracts in the carcases of 943 wild culled red deer (Cervus elaphus) were recorded. During the peak period of the red deer rut there was a significant increase in the number of these tracts in the carcases, which was associated with a decrease from 89 per cent to 71 per cent in the probability of the first permanent wound tract also being the last (the terminal probability). There were significantly more permanent wound tracts in the carcases of one group (predominantly males) than in a second group (predominantly females and calves). In carcases with a single tract in the trunk, in which the heart and lungs were also examined, 80 per cent had tracts involving the heart and/or lungs, the recommended thoracic target organs. Tracts involving vital structures in the neck were also common, with 15.3 per cent of the carcases with a single permanent tract having damage limited to cervical structures.

A longitudinal observational study of 15 red deer farms was carried out in New Zealand for two years from March 1992. The deer were monitored for performance and health problems, and farm management practices were recorded. Numbers at risk were 4683 hind-years, 2459 stag-years and 3202 weaner-years. The numbers of primiparous and adult hinds at risk of losing their progeny by weaning were 653 and 3364, respectively. Where possible, postmortem examinations were carried out, and organs were sampled for histological and microbiological investigation. Rates of mortality varied with season with most stag and hind deaths in winter and weaner deaths in autumn and winter. Overall mortality rates were 1.77, 2.60 and 5.87 per 100 deer-years for hinds, stags and weaners, respectively. Malignant catarrhal fever accounted for 0.53 stag and 0.17 hind deaths per 100 deer-years at risk. Misadventure, including broken bones, accounted for 15.4 per cent of weaner mortalities, or 0.53 weaner mortalities per 100 weaner-three months in autumn. Yersiniosis was confirmed in 18.6 per cent of weaner deaths, or 1.09 weaners per 100 weaner-years during the first six months after weaning, but was also suspected but unconfirmed in a further 41 per cent of weaner mortalities. Overall, 17 per cent of yearling hinds, and 9.2 per cent of adult hinds lost their progeny between pregnancy diagnosis in June and weaning in March. One outbreak of osteochondrosis was recorded. Mortality rates varied between farms and many mortalities were preventable.

Multiple bilateral fractures of the lumbar transverse processes were radiographically identified postmortem in a recently captured roe deer (Capreolus capreolus). These fractures were probably caused by an avulsion of the psoas major occurring during introduction into the transport box. The deer probably died from shock caused by the fractures, muscle damage, and subsequent hemorrhage. Although easily overlooked, fractured lumbar transverse processes may indicate inadequate postcapture management practices.