Wig antler in a roe deer (Capreolus capreolus)

In cervids, antlers periodically cast and re-grow from protuberances located on the frontal bone. It is a cyclic process, specific for every cervid species and related to seasonal fluctuations in circulating sex steroids. Four years ago, two fawn roe deer were found, set in a private fence and fed goat milk until weaning. One of them had an arrest in antler growth with velvet preservation during the first year and did not cast, but had a continuous growth that gave origin to a voluminous slowly forming cauliflower-like structure covering the head (s.c. wig antler roe). The animal progressively stopped feeding and lost condition until death. No clinical signs indicative of some abnormalities were present except for the abnormal antler growth. The testicles regularly descended. However, plasma testosterone concentrations were lower in the wig antler roe than in the normal animal and radiography presented anomalies of mineralization and structure of the antlers.