Axis deer have long been recognized for being rated as the best tasting venison world wide. An average axis deer weighs between 125-200 pounds. Trophy axis bucks typically weight over 200 pounds and have antlers with six points and a length of 30-34 inches. Fees for hunting them average $1250 in the Texas Hill Country. When sold for consumption purposes, yearlings cost $85-$100.
It has been reported that Barasinga deer will cross-breed with Axis deer. Both species are native to India. An average Barasinga will weight between 350-625 pounds. Barasinga bucks normally have 12 points but can have up to 16-20 points total. Their length reaches over 40 inches. It is hoped that an Axis-Barasinga cross will maintain the desirable flavor of the Axis while gaining the body mass and antler growth of the Barasinga.
Texas-Safari Ranch maintains a large free-ranging Axis deer population. Early 2002, three Barasinga does were released within this Axis herd. This phase is to determine if a natural cross will occur with free-ranging Axis bucks and Barasinga does with the lack of a Barasinga buck. Breeding season of Barasinga is from September to April peaking during December and January. Axis deer, on the other hand, breed throughout the year. They peak during June and July. Each Axis buck has a reproductive cycle of its own which may not be synchronous with other bucks in the herd. They will also seek out and service does of different herds as the does come into estrous. Limited success with this phase is expected due to the fact Barasinga does are monestrous, coming into heat only one time per year.
Large Axis does will be crossbred with Barasinga bucks. Since Axis does cycle throughout the year, we expect a higher success rate with this phase.
Artificial insemination of reciprocal crosses will be attempted. We feel it is important to study the reciprocal cross since it is documented that there can be great differences in offspring depending upon which sex of which species the parents are. These differences are typically a result of X-linked inheritance, Y-linked inheritance, and X lyonization.
Texas-Safari Ranch will attempt breeding the resulting offspring to determine sterility and develop a new breeding population... "Braxis" deer.