Concentration of Potentially Toxic Elements in Farmed Fallow Deer Antlers Depending on Diet and Age

SIMPLE SUMMARY: The rapidly growing antlers of farmed fallow deer (Dama dama) reflect the composition of their diet, and furthermore, the risk of toxic substances. The concentration of eight potentially toxic elements, PTE (Cd, Pb, As, Ba, Ni, Sr, La, Ce), was examined in the proximal, middle, and distal positions of the antlers and in the winter food and pasture food that the animals consumed during the increase in individual antler fragments depending on the age. The research was conducted on males aged 2 to 8 years. The oldest fallow deer had the highest amounts of As, Ba, and Sr in antlers. Increasing the body weight of animals and the weight of antlers resulted in a decrease in the concentration of Ba and Sr in tissues. The highest amounts of Cd were in food in June, and Ba in spring and winter. The obtained research results can be used by farmers to make seasonal decisions regarding nutrition. Breeders can produce food in areas with less pollution and harvest to prepare winter feed at a time when emissions and pollutions are lower. ABSTRACT: Deer antlers, usually harvested annually on a farm, are an accessible material used to determine the exposition to potentially toxic elements, PTEs, during growth. Moreover, the study of antlers from animals of different ages allows the assessment of long-term exposition to these elements. The aim of the study was to analyze the concentration of eight potentially toxic elements (Cd, Pb, As, Ba, Ni, Sr, La, Ce) in individual positions of the antlers (first, second, and third position, corresponding to the stages of development and life of these animals) and in the food that the animals consumed during the growth of individual antler fragments, depending on the age of the farmed fallow deer (Dama dama). The mineral composition of samples was analyzed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The analysis included 31 male deer aged 2–8 years old. The average concentration of Pb, Ba, and Ni was higher in the second position of the antler, and As, La, and Ce in the third position. In addition, the oldest individuals showed a higher Cd, Pb, and As concentration in the third position. A significant positive relationship was found between the age of animals and accumulation of As (r = 0.582, p < 0.05), as well as Ba and Sr (r = −0.534, r = −0.644 at p < 0.05, respectively). The average content of Ba and Sr also significantly negatively depended on body mass and antler mass stags (r = −0.436, r = −0.515 at p < 0.05, respectively). Cd concentration in feed was significantly higher in June compared to winter, spring, and later summer (p < 0.05). On the other hand, the concentration of Ba in food was significantly higher in spring and winter than in early and later summer (p < 0.05). An increase in the PTEs in the pasture determined the concentration of these components in fallow deer antlers.