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Animal Production Science Animal Production Science Society
Food, fibre and pharmaceuticals from animals
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Assessing red deer antler density with a hydrostatic method versus a new parametric volume-modelling technique using 3D-CAD

M. A. R. Paramio A , J. Muñoz-Cobo B , J. Moro C , R. Gutierrez C , A. Oya D , S. Tellado B and C. Azorit B E
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Department of Graphic Engineering, Design and Projects, Higher Polytechnic School, University of Jaén, 23071, Spain.

B Department of Animal and Vegetal Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Experimental Sciences, University of Jaén, 23071, Spain.

C Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Environment (National Parks), 23071, Spain.

D Department of Statistics and Operations Research, University of Jaén, 23071, Spain.

E Corresponding author. Email: cazorit@ujaen.es

Animal Production Science 52(8) 750-755 https://doi.org/10.1071/AN12015
Submitted: 13 January 2012  Accepted: 3 February 2012   Published: 29 May 2012

Abstract

Two methods of volume measurement were compared, to develop a simple and reliable method for estimating the whole-antler density. We used 10 cast antlers, previously dried and weighed, from 10 different red deer (Cervus elaphus hispanicus) individuals. The volumes were determined by the traditional Archimedes method versus a new parametric volume-modelling technique using a ‘computer-aided design-three dimensions’ (3D-CAD), which is now being used in the biomedical industry in applications such as medical-implant design, tissue engineering and in developing a better understanding of anatomical functionality and morphological analysis. The process paths to follow in the generation of CAD models from cast antlers were described. The whole-antler density was estimated from the weight and volume measurement and a paired-sample comparison procedure was performed to assess differences between volumes as well as densities. Cast-antler weight ranged from 219.93 to 1857.9 g, and the volume estimated by the hydrostatic method was 732.45 ± 474.06 cm3 and by the CAD-3D method it was 730.65 ± 492.59 cm3. The DM density of the antler by the hydrostatic method (Density A) was 1.112 ± 0.120 g/cm3, ranging from 0.915 to 1.345 g/cm3 (Shapiro–Wilks, P = 0.449), and by the 3D-CAD method (Density B) it was 1.112 ± 0.158 g/cm3, ranging from 0.939 to 1.326 g/cm3 (Shapiro–Wilks, P = 0.751). There were no differences in the volume (t = 0.95, P = 0.37) or density (t = 0.54, P = 0.60) between the two methods and the correlation coefficient between Density A and Density B was 0.968. Both methods had similar reliability, although the computing process with the 3D-CAD system calculated antler volume faster than did the traditional hydrostatic weighing. 3D-CAD also avoided cast damage and the methodological problems with larger or smaller antlers or with floatability due to low density, which occur when using the hydrostatic method.

Additional keywords: cast-antler density, hydrostatic weighing.


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