Dr. Hoof Stock

Q1. What are the weaning times of all species at Fossil Rim?

Q2. What influences can environmental and forage conditions or nutritional factors have?

Q3. Assess the behavior of the males. Are they the best suited individuals for the pasture?

Q4. How can we best manage multiple males?
Q4.1 How will the management affect the intact male…and females…?

Q4.2 Can we determine calving percentages based on herd individuals and male influence?

Q5. Why do some species choose to calve year round (with peaks)?”

Q5.1 Are we overlooking potential advantages to having animals calve year round?

(K. Snodgrass & A. Eyres, personal communication, 8/2007; edited by J. Packard 1/2008)

 INITIAL GOAL STATEMENT

“To quantify a better management protocol for hoofed mammals at Fossil Rim Wildlife Center, focusing on Addax, Arabian Oryx, Gemsbok, Waterbuck, Sable, Scimitar Horned oryx, Bongo, Kudu and Addra gazelle.  Create the ability to breed for optimal nutrition to cows, weaning times of calves, and herd management with vasectomized males for normal herd structure while capitalizing on prime calving times. ”

OBJECTIVES

1.  Synchronize births: manage the herds to calve during the optimal season (March and April).

2.  Social structure: manage the herds for more socially educated animals (keep a good balance of young, old, male and female).

3.  Minimize risks: try to keep males integrated into herds to reduce the risks of injuries due to fighting, keeping in mind the typical behavior in nature for this species.

4.  Collect & share data: 

(K. Snodgrass, A. Eyres, personal communication, 8/2007, edited by J. Packard 1/2008)

Of all the species at Fossil Rim Wildlife Center, why are we working specifically on the waterbuck? 

We are starting with the waterbuck, because several calves died during the hard winter of 2007.  This sad experience was a catalyst for finding better ways to synchronize the reproduction such that calves are born early enough in the year that they can survive the winter.  It will also help maintain the pasture condition, so the food is not depleted in the fall when animals need to fatten up for the winter.

Attached is a list of scientific sources I located through Web of Science.

For starters, we will focus on the waterbuck at Fossil Rim Wildlife Center. We want to do this to develop a framework that we can eventually expand to other species and other places.

We are teaming on this collaborative learning project, to explore ways to integrate practical and academic knowledge. Our team includes staff at Fossil Rim Wildlife Center, faculty and students at Texas A&M University.

FOSSIL RIM COLLABORATORS:

Animal Care: Kelley Snodgrass, Adam Eyres, David Geurkink, Cassie Peterson

Animal Health: Holly Haefele

Conservation: Curt Decker

TEXAS A&M COLLABORATORS

Faculty: Jane Packard, Susan Cooper

Graduate Students: Alexa Sutton, Ashley Woldhagen, Chris Lituma, Hollie Colahan, Krystal Windham, Robin Vaughn,

Undergraduate Students: Michael Birt, Renee Jones

VOLUNTEER ASSISTANTS:

Katie M., Dallas Community College