@conference {41336,
	title = {An attempt to suppress the rut- associated loss of live weight in stags by immunocastration},
	booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	volume = {62},
	year = {2002},
	month = {Jan},
	pages = {149-151},
	publisher = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	organization = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	address = {Palmerston North},
	abstract = {Two trials were conducted to study the effectiveness of vaccination of stags against gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) for minimising the deleterious effects of the rut on their live weight and body condition. In March 2000, mature red deer stags (n = 10) received a s.c. injection of 1.0 ml of vaccine (Improvac{\textregistered}) or saline solution (controls) and a second injection three weeks later. Liveweight loss in the 10 weeks following the initial injection was not affected by the treatment (mean loss 28.6 {\textpm} 4.0 kg and 28.1 {\textpm} 4.2 kg for vaccinated and control groups, respectively). Plasma testosterone concentration was lower (P<0.05) in the vaccinated stags but there was no effect on scrotal diameter. In the following year, stags (n = 10) were injected with 2.0 ml of the vaccine or saline on 18 January and 8 February. Mean liveweight loss in 21 weeks was similar for vaccinated and control groups (41.2 {\textpm} 8.2 kg and 38.8 {\textpm} 7.2 kg, respectively) and there was no treatment effect on the reduction in body condition score. Although vaccinated stags had a lower (P<0.05) mean plasma testosterone concentration than control stags, this effect can be entirely attributed to stags (3 out of 4) that had been vaccinated in the previous year{\textquoteright}s trial. It is concluded that vaccination of stags against GnRH does not overcome the loss in live weight which is associated with the rut in these animals. },
	issn = {1176-5283},
	author = {Barrell GK and Nicol AM and Keeley MJ}
}
