The effect of temperature and humidity on eating and sexual behaviour of timor deer (Cervus timorensis) Desmina Kristiani Hutabarat (a*), Amarenci Ndiken(a), Irine Ike Praptiwi(a), Maria M Nay Lesik(a)
a) Department of Husbandry, Faculty of Agriculture, Musamus University, Merauke 99611, Indonesia
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between the effect of temperature and humidity on the eating and sexual behaviour of timor deer (Cervus timorensis) at The Yamai Atib Animal Park in Merauke using descriptive analysis methods, quantitative analysis and scan sampling. The variables observed were eating behaviour: choosing, taking, chewing feed and breeding- sexual behaviour: kissing, licking up the partner^s body, rubbing the head (female) and rubbing the horn (male). Scan sampling is method for observing animal behaviour but recording daily behaviour based on a predetermined time limit. The result showed that the activity of deer in Yamai Atib Animal Park was greatest in the morning to choose feed: 7,46% took feed- 7,14% chewed- 30,15% with an average temperature of 28,9℃- at temperature of 82% and for breeding activities: 88,52% with an average temperature of 32,5 ℃- at a humidity of 78% is the largest during the day of stags. Feeding activity for the female deer occurs ay its greatest in the morning, namely, choosing feed 7,80%- feed 7,77%- chewing 30,56% and breeding 90,65%. Greatest were occurred at the average temperature at 31,5℃- at the humidity at 76%. Male sexual activity to rub the horns 48% occurred in the afternoon with temperature at 30,1 ℃- humidity at 81%, kissing 49,27%, licking 36,57% the largest occurred in the morning with temperature at 28,9℃- humidity 82%, climbing does not occur at all. The sexual activity of the female deer was rubbing the head 34,26% within the largest activities occurred in the afternoon with temperature at 30,3℃- humidity 79%- kissing 50,37%- licking 31,08% within the largest occurred in the morning with temperature at 28,2 ℃- humidity at 84%, climbing does not occurred at all.
