The Formosan Sambar Deer, a unique subspecies native to Taiwan, has long been regarded as a valuable economic animal due to its excellent production performance. However, traditional deer farming methods have many limitations that restrict the industry's growth. To address international market competition, the Livestock Research Institute of the Council of Agriculture has formed a team to optimize Formosan Sambar Deer production efficiency. This team is developing breeding, artificial reproduction technologies, and antler processing techniques to provide value-added solutions for the industry's advancement.

Establishing Deer Lineage to Prevent Inbreeding

Director Huang Zhenfang stated that traditional deer breeding methods lack systematic approaches, making it challenging to ensure the quality of breeding deer. To address this, the team has created the "Taiwan Deer Farm Network" platform, allowing deer farmers to establish individual deer records and breeding pedigrees. Additionally, the team employs microsatellite DNA technology to help farmers create deer genealogies, effectively preventing inbreeding and the resultant high genetic homogeneity, which can lead to lethal or harmful phenotypes.

Developing Artificial Reproduction Technologies to Improve Breeding Efficiency

Artificial reproduction technologies for Formosan Sambar Deer are crucial for enhancing breeding efficiency. These include anesthesia restraint techniques, electro-ejaculation, semen freezing and dilution preparation, semen cold storage and preservation, rectal palpation, estrus synchronization treatment for does, and artificial insemination techniques. These methods significantly improve the conception rates of female deer.

Developing Antler By-product Technologies to Tap into the Health Market

Deer antlers and their extracts have substantial medicinal value and have become popular products in both domestic and international health markets in recent years. The developed technologies explore the benefits of deer antlers, with experiments confirming their potential to promote immune cell proliferation, inhibit pro-inflammatory responses, and delay aging.

Director Huang noted that since the promotion of these technologies in 2020, over 50 deer farms have adopted them, with an estimated increase in Formosan Sambar Deer production by more than 20%. The application of these technologies has injected robust momentum into the development of Taiwan's sambar deer industry.

Resource (mandarin)

新創焦點-八大技術優化選育效率，臺灣水鹿產業迎來升級新頁