Publication Date
1993
Description
Red clover (RC) (Trlfolium pratense L.) and chicory (C) (Cichorium intybus L.) were evaluated in 3 experiments as alternative forages to perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) (0.85)-white clover (Trifolium repens L.) (0.15) pasture (PRG) for deer production. During lactation (summer), fawns grazed with their hinds on RC grew faster (410-433 g/day) than their contemporaries reared on PRO (322/g/day). Fawns reared on C during lactation were intermediate, From weaning to 12 months of age, young deer were consistently heavier when grazing RC than PRG, with the advantage at 12 months being 7 kg for stags and 3 kg for hinds. During the post-weaning phase, 100 and 75%, respectively, of stags grazing RC or PRO attained the target slaughter criterion of 92 kg live weight (50 kg carcass) by 1 year of age. It is concluded that RC offers considerable potential as a special-purpose forage for deer production.
Citation
Barry, T N.; Niezen, J H.; Semiadi, G; Hodgson, J; Wilson, P R.; and Ataja, A M., "Development of Specialist Forage Systems for Deer Production" (2024). IGC Proceedings (1993-2023). 9.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1993/session41/9
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
Development of Specialist Forage Systems for Deer Production
Red clover (RC) (Trlfolium pratense L.) and chicory (C) (Cichorium intybus L.) were evaluated in 3 experiments as alternative forages to perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) (0.85)-white clover (Trifolium repens L.) (0.15) pasture (PRG) for deer production. During lactation (summer), fawns grazed with their hinds on RC grew faster (410-433 g/day) than their contemporaries reared on PRO (322/g/day). Fawns reared on C during lactation were intermediate, From weaning to 12 months of age, young deer were consistently heavier when grazing RC than PRG, with the advantage at 12 months being 7 kg for stags and 3 kg for hinds. During the post-weaning phase, 100 and 75%, respectively, of stags grazing RC or PRO attained the target slaughter criterion of 92 kg live weight (50 kg carcass) by 1 year of age. It is concluded that RC offers considerable potential as a special-purpose forage for deer production.
