PRODUCTIVITY OF FARMED WAPITI IN ALBERTA

Calving and weaning rates of 1084 wapiti hinds (females) were collecte d in the 1990 season by an on-farm survey of 50 producers in Alberta, to determine the reproductive performance of farmed wapiti. A calving rate of 81 and 96 % for 2-yr-old arid adult hinds, respectively, gave a provincial herd average of 93 %. Weaning rates of 73 % for 2-yr-old and 91 % for adult hinds resulted in an 88% weaning rate overall. One set of triplets and three sets of twins gave a multiple birth ratio of one in 271 calvings. Overall calf mortality was 5.2 % in the survey, with a trend (P = 0.07) for 2-yr olds to experience higher calf mortal ities (9.5 %) than adult hinds (4.4 %). Dystocia accounted for two-thi rds of the total calf mortalities reported in the survey. Although 2-y r olds calved later than adult hinds (11 June vs. 6 June), hind pre-ru t weight influenced calving dates. Male calves were heavier (94 vs. 85 kg, (P = 0.0001) than female calves at 100 d due to their faster grow th rate (753 vs. 686 g d-1, P = 0.0001). Growth rate and consequently weaning weights were positively influenced by hind pre-rut weight. The mean length of the breeding season was 111 d with producers exposing an average of 21 hinds per breeding stag on 1. 2 ha of pasture per wap iti yr-1. The calf production ratio at 200 d was 52.5 kg calf per 100 kg hind for individual females weaning a calf, and was 46.2 kg calf pe r 100 kg of hind exposed on a herd basis. Pre-rut weaning was associat ed with improved calving (3.3 %), weaning rates (2.6 % in adult hinds and 13.4 % in young hinds), decreased calf mortality (3.2%), advanced calving dates (5 d), and improved growth to 200 d (8 %).