DEHYDROEPIANDROSTERONE, DEHYDROEPIANDROSTERONE-SULFATE, AND THEIR RELATION TO CORTISOL IN RED DEER (CERVUS-ELAPHUS)

Adrenal androgens, dehydroepiandrosterone, its sulphate and, in compar ison, cortisol in serum were determined over two periods in red deer. The hormone levels were determined in hinds farmed from their births, captured in adulthood, and in fawns reared under farm conditions with their mothers or under artificial farm conditions without their mother s. In addition, steroid levels were studied in stags under farm condit ions in and after the breeding season. Investigation of animals for th eir potential as farmed animals gave information on the stress suscept ibility. It is suggested that the present assessment of hormonal event s will provide prognostic information on their adaptation to farm cond itions, reproductive performance, and possibly, their immune responses and the quality of their products.