Seasonal variations in physiological indices of adult female white-tailed deer in Texas.
Seasonal variations in blood chemistry, urine chemistry, fat reserves, and crude protein levels of rumen contents were determined for free-ranging adult female white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus Zimmermann) in central Texas. Seasonal variations (P less than 0.05) existed for serum total protein, albumin, globulin, albumin/globulin ratios, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), cholesterol, alkaline phosphatase, creatinine, phosphorus, and sodium; and urinary urea/creatinine (U/C) ratios, rumen crude protein, the kidney fat index (KFI), femur marrow fat (FMF), and dressed weights. Variations in BUN, urinary U/C ratios, dressed weights, KFI, and FMF were attributed partially to the nutritional demands of late gestation and lactation.
D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D001835:Body Weight; D003404:Creatinine / Q000652:urine; D003670:Deer / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D012417:Rumen / Q000378:metabolism; D012621:Seasons; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000378:metabolism; D012712:Serum Globulins / Q000378:metabolism; D013045:Species Specificity; D013781:Texas; D014508:Urea / Q000652:urine
D001798:Blood Proteins; D011506:Proteins; D012709:Serum Albumin; D012712:Serum Globulins; D014508:Urea; D003404:Creatinine