Osteochondrosis in association with copper deficiency in farmed deer calves

Abstract

Osteochondrosis has been recognised in association with copper deficiency in young farmed red deer and wapiti X red deer hybrids on several deer farms throughout New Zealand. On some properties more than 30% of fawns were affected. Affected animals were lame, often had one or more swollen joints and in some cases had an abnormal “bunny-hopping” gait or “COW hocked” stance. Lesions were most common in the carpal, tarsal, stifle and hip joints and were usually bilateral. Defects in articular cartilage ranged from loose flaps to complete separation with exposure of subchondral bone and the presence of loose bodies within the joint space. In advanced cases the joints had features of degenerative arthropathy. Bilaterial epiphyseolysis of the femoral head was observed in some severely lame deer.