The level of retinol and α-tocopherol in Cervidae species (Mammalia, Cetartiodactyla) in the Northwest of Russia

The content of vitamins in the body is one of the most important indicators reflecting the level of nutrition of large ungulate mammals living on the northern periphery of their range in conditions of limited access to food resources in the cold period of the year. In this work, the content of retinol (vitamin A) and α-tocopherol (vitamin E) in the organs and tissues of wild moose (Alces alces) of different ages and sexes, as well as European red deer (Cervus elaphus) and maral (C. e. sibiricus) kept in semi-free conditions in the Northwest of Russia (Republic of Karelia and Leningrad Region) was studied. Biological material was collected from animals harvested because of legal hunting during the hunting season from October to January. The level of vitamins in the studied animals was generally consistent with the values established for cervids living in other regions of the world, including those with a milder climate. Relatively low vitamin content identified in species of the genus Cervus warrants further investigation. In moose, no sexor age-related differences were found in the content of vitamins A and E, except for a lower level of α-tocopherol in the kidneys of adult females compared to young ones. Pregnant females had a comparatively low retinol content in the examined organs and tissues. The effect of the region in which the moose were hunted on the content of retinol in the liver and α-tocopherol in the heart was found, which may be due to the natural and climatic features of the study areas, which determine the composition of phytocenoses and the forage nutritive value. The results obtained can be used to assess the status of large ungulates and their population level management plans.

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