Blue-hide Red Deer

Blue-hide Red Deer

　　Xinjiang currently has over 100 deer farms with nearly 10,000 domesticated red deer, mainly found in areas such as Zhaosu, Tekes, and Qapqal in Xinjiang. These deer are abundant and highly productive, locally referred to as "blue-hide red deer." They are also found in Yiwu and Barkol grasslands, as well as in Mori in the Hami region, commonly known as "yellow-eyed deer." The red deer is a valuable animal, with its fetus, blood, tendons, tail, antlers, and heart all being traditional medicinal ingredients. Due to their precious medicinal value, red deer are classified as a second-class protected animal in China.

　　 Red deer are relatively large in size. Adult males stand 130 to 140 centimeters tall at the shoulder, measure 130 to 150 centimeters in body length, and weigh between 240 and 330 kilograms. Females stand 115 to 130 centimeters tall, are 120 to 140 centimeters long, and weigh between 160 and 200 kilograms. Tianshan red deer have a robust build, with broad foreheads and strong limbs. Their summer coat is dark gray, with prismatic hip spots that are white or light yellow. In winter, their coat is light gray-brown, featuring long, thick, and dense neck hair and beard, while the hair on the head, neck, and limbs is dark gray, and the eye area is light yellow. The velvet on their antlers is gray-black or gray-white. Tianshan red deer typically grow antlers with 7 to 8 tines, where the main beam, brow tine, and brow palm are thick and long. It’s common to see some shovelform or palmate four-tined antlers.

　　 Tianshan red deer are gentle in temperament, tolerant of coarse feed, and have strong adaptability and disease resistance. Their antler branches are large, tender, upright, and yield high production. They are also highly reproductive, offering good economic returns. Therefore, whether establishing high-yield purebred populations, using Tianshan red deer to improve the Northeast red deer, or conducting interspecies hybridization with the Northeast sika deer, the hybrid vigor is consistently high. Continuing with progressive hybridization, followed by intercrossing between the F2 and F3 generations, can eventually lead to the development of new types or breeds, giving them significant breeding value.