Abstracts

Abstract: White-tailed deer, Odocoileus virginianus, population management is essential to control the increasing number of herds across the state. In order to ascertain the health of a deer herd, biologists may conduct liver analyses to check for adequate mineral levels. Copper is a necessary mineral required for normal growth and metabolism. Copper deficiency in ruminants has been associated with poor growth weights in offspring, low body weights in adults, and low rate of pregnancy in herds. Micronutrient information such as copper levels, will allow biologists to determine areas that are low in copper, and in turn, adjust their management programs accordingly. The livers of 222 Louisiana white-tailed deer were collected from hunter or agency harvested animals between 2009 and 2013. Samples were analyzed to determine liver copper levels, if any trends in copper deficiencies were associated with particular deer habitat types in Louisiana, and if any trends were discovered in association with age, gender, or collection season. Liver analyses revealed that female deer collected from late February to mid- May in the historic longleaf habitat in Rapides Parish had the lowest copper levels. This study revealed that copper deficiency in ruminants is most likely caused by a combination of many factors rather than just one, individual factor. While ecology of the animal and climatic conditions of a particular habitat cannot be changed, the quality of the habitat can. Soil and habitat quality must be addressed in order to provide white-tails with optimum browse selection and micronutrient availability.