Farmed game: Olfaction

The fallow deer can, aided by olfaction, discover a human being 200 metres away, and olfaction is used to some extent in heat periods. The fallow deer uses vision and hearing more than olfaction to localise i.e. predators.

The red deer has more developed olfaction than the fallow deer, and can by smells detect a human at a distance of 1200 metres. Olfaction has an important role for the red deer in the heat period. The deer odour marks both with urine and by odour glands, and
the hind emits a charachteristic odour from the vulval area.

The fallow deer can, aided by olfaction, discover a human being 200 metres away. Photo: Anders Jarnemo.

Mouflon

The mouflon’s olfaction is in principle identical to that of the domestic sheeps.

Wild boars and domestic pigs have excellent olfaction. It can be compared to that of the dog.
They use olfaction to analyse food and to recognise members of the herd.

Thanks to olfaction, they can also discover dangers, and they can smell a human at a distance of over 100 metres.

The wold boar can, thanks to olfaction, find food well below the ground. Photo: Anders Jarnemo.

Ostriches

Ostriches are considered to have undeveloped olfaction.