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Environment & Natural Resources |
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Improving Deer Herds: Idlewild Station Earns National Acclaim
| | These white-tailed deer are involved in a new technique that’s being developed at the LSU AgCenter’s Idlewild Research Station near Clinton. Dearl Sanders, professor and resident director at the station, said these does are artificially inseminated with sperm taken from a “fair chase buck” (legally killed). This process increases the ability to extract valued genetic material from wild populations of whitetails for either improved animal development programs or to determine if undesirable characteristics in wild herds are the result of poor genetics. (Photo by Johnny Morgan) |
Improvement of wild and captive white-tailed deer herds is just one of the projects at the LSU AgCenter's Idlewild Research Station near Clinton.
This station, established in 1957, has been the home base for research on Louisiana’s wildlife, particularly deer – plus research on fruit crops and forest sustainability. But a breakthrough in deer reproductive physiology has brought widespread acclaim to the station.
“Now we have the capability to improve herds without moving deer, which is illegal,” said Dearl Sanders, resident coordinator. “It’s illegal because of the threat of chronic wasting disease.
"In June 2006, we had the birth of three fawns that were the product of extracting viable semen from a dead buck," Sanders said. "What this means is that we can now take the testicles from harvested deer and artificially breed does to reproduce offspring with those desirable traits."
Red, White and “Moo”
In addition to a herd of white-tailed deer, or “whitetails,” the station has recently acquired about 80 red deer on loan from Texas A&M University.
“We are looking to establish our own herd of red deer for research,” Sanders said. “These deer are easy to work with because they are large and fairly gentle – a lot like cattle. Also they have virtually no diseases and they make lots of babies.”
The deer are native to north central Europe and have been bred in captivity for hundreds of years. Red deer are grown for meat in New Zealand and Europe.
Sanders said because it is illegal to sell meat from white-tailed deer in America, the venison on restaurant menus is actually red deer.
The station also maintains a cattle herd used for research projects in the School of Animal Sciences. One such project is a calf intensive grazing project started last fall.
Cattle, Then Deer
Research on preserving the white-tailed deer came as an outgrowth of research on deriving viable semen from dead beef animals by extracting the semen from the epidiymus.
"I asked if it would be possible to do this with white-tailed deer since captive extraction of semen from wild deer is difficult and illegal in most states," Sanders said. "We attempted the process in late 2003 with testicles taken from a captive deer that died of natural causes, and the process proved promising."
Sanders said the research involved collecting testicles from "fair chase" (legally killed) bucks from five wildlife management areas in the state.
In 2004, the protocols were developed for successful artificial insemination of white-tailed does at the Idlewild Station.
This process increases the ability to extract valued genetic material from wild populations of whitetails for either improved animal development programs or to determine if undesirable characteri | | LSU AgCenter forestry specialist Don Reed demonstrates how to properly use a portable sawmill at a workshop at the AgCenter’s Idlewild Research Station near Clinton. (Photo by Johnny Morgan) |
stics in wild herds are the result of poor genetics.
“As a general rule, the hunters seek the largest buck during the hunting season,” said Robert Godke, an internationally known expert in assisted reproductive technologies in animals and an LSU Boyd professor. “Until now, their genetics would have been lost with the killing of these males.
"Preserving the epididymal sperm for subsequent artificial insemination will help save the best genetics in the male population to generate offspring that would carry these males’ genes into subsequent generations."
Deer Attractants, Fire Ants, Quail
Another wildlife study at the station involves deer attractants. Motion sensors and infrared cameras are set up to take pictures of the deer as they come to consume the attractants.
Yet another project focuses on fire ants. For the past two years, Linda Hooper-Bui, associate professor in the Department of Entomology, has been conducting a study to determine the correlation between the infestations of fire ants in an area to the decline in quail numbers.
Sanders said they’re finding that where the fire ants are present, there is no quail repopulation. “The ants are consuming the young birds at a stage where they aren’t able to defend themselves,” Sanders said.
Fruit Projects
There are 27 acres of peaches at the station, along with apples, blueberries, pears and figs. Charlie Johnson, LSU AgCenter horticulture researcher and one of the nation’s top peach breeders, has ongoing breeding projects there. Currently, he also is working on a southern apple variety.
Field Days
Field days held regularly at the station include wildlife, cattle, portable sawmills and forestry. Each year, usually in September, a deer management field day is held. The Quality Deer Management Association, a national organization with chapters in almost every state, coordinates this field day at the research station. The mission of this organization is to promote balanced harvest of b | | LSU Agcenter professor Neils De Hoop shows how to properly use wood-cutting equipment while working with damaged timber. De Hoop demonstrated the use of chain saws and a variety of safety equipment during a workshop focused on helping landowners remove downed timber. (Photo by Johnny Morgan) |
oth bucks and does, said Don Reed, wildlife specialist headquartered at the station.
Impact
The work that the station is doing with wildlife is a big economic boost to Louisiana. “Whether it’s hunting, fishing or bird watching, the recreational use of land in this area is big business,” Sanders said. “Timber harvesting is about the only use of the land in this area that has more value than recreational use.” Recreational leases on land in the area surrounding the research station average between $25-$35 per acre per year.
The LSU AgCenter is one of 11 institutions of higher education in the Louisiana State University System. Headquartered in Baton Rouge, it provides educational services in every parish and conducts research that contributes to the economic development of the state. The LSU AgCenter does not grant degrees nor benefit from tuition increases. The LSU AgCenter plays an integral role in supporting agricultural industries, enhancing the environment, and improving the quality of life through its 4-H youth, family and community programs.
(This AgCenter Lead was updated by Linda Benedict on July 9, 2007.)
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| Posted on: 8/30/2006 1:47:03 PM |
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