Irish elk
Assuming a similar response to starvation as red deer, a large, healthy Irish elk stag with antlers would have had antlers under poor conditions; and an average sized Irish elk stag with antlers would have had antlers under poorer conditions, similar sizes to the moose. A similar change in a typical Irish elk population with prime stags having antlers would result in antler weights of or less in worsening climatic conditions. This is within the range of present day wapiti/red deer ("Cervus" spp.) antler weights. Irish elk antlers vary widely in form depending upon the habitat, such as a compact, upright shape in closed forest environments. Irish elk likely shed their antlers and re-grew a new pair during mating season. Antlers generally require high amounts of calcium and phosphate, especially those for stags which have larger structures, and the massive antlers of Irish elk may have required much greater quantities. Stags typically meet these requirements in part from their bones, suffering from a condition similar to osteoporosis while the antlers are growing, and replenishing them from food plants after the antlers have grown in or reclaiming nutrients from shed antlers.