RE: supplemental feeding
[align=left]Supplemental Feeding[/align][align=left][/align][align=left]Many landowners and hunters consider supplemental feeding an important factor in deermanagement and a source of nutrition when native forage is inadequate either in quantity orquality. Under certain conditions a supplemental feeding program can help; however, most deerfeeding programs which provide sufficient additional nutrients to be of value, are expensive.[/align][align=left][/align][align=left]There is a distinct difference between feeding and baiting deer. Maintaining deer feedersfrom October through December is a common practice on many ranches to attract deer to huntingblinds during the hunting season. Unfortunately most of these baiting efforts cease just beforeadditional feed is really needed by the deer. Supplemental feeding should be done during stress periods and then only under specific conditions. [/align][align=left][/align][align=left]Stress periods for deer are usually encountered when the protein content of the forage is at a low level during severe winters, dry springs and dry summers. Supplemental feeding of deer is expensive, and unless properly done, it is of little or nobenefit to the deer. The most efficient means of insuring adequate nutrition is through a good range management program that provides sufficient cover and a variety of browse plants as wellas forbs. [/align][align=left][/align][align=left]This is done by reducing deer numbers and domestic livestock numbers to levels that allow the range to recover and remain in good condition. A common mistake made by many landowners attempting to develop a range management plan is to disregard the number of animal units of deer present when calculating use of the range. If deer are present, they are utilizing available forage and must be considered as part of the stocking rate. If large numbers of deer are desired, domestic livestock must be reduced to prevent damage to the range. [/align][align=left][/align][align=left]Under good range conditions, deer and cattle do not compete for food; however, deer, sheep and goats are in direct competition for the available food supply. When a range is in poor condition deer and cattle will compete for forb and browse plants.[/align][align=left][/align][align=left]Supplemental feeding of deer may be beneficial if the herd is harvested adequately each year and the range is in good condition. Only under closely controlled conditions will supplemental feeding benefit growth rate of body and antlers. The benefits of a supplemental feeding program may be more quickly realized when feeding is done within deer-proof fenced areas that permit the landowner to closely control deer numbers. Dr. Larry Varner, Consulting Nutritionist on Wildlife and Livestock, New Braunfels, Texas, feels that there are certain advantages and disadvantages to any feeding program and offers the following for consideration:[/align][align=left][/align][align=left]ADVANTAGES:[/align][align=left]1. Trophy class animals at an earlier age.[/align][align=left]2. Lower post rut mortality in bucks.[/align][align=left]3. Allow genetically superior animals to reach their potential.[/align][align=left]4. Carry more quality animals in a given area.[/align][align=left]5. Smooth out ‘boom or bust’ population cycles.[/align][align=left]6. Expand range or hold animals in an area if other factors are not limiting.[/align][align=left][/align][align=left]DISADVANTAGES:[/align][align=left]1. Long term commitment[/align][align=left]a. Learned behavior[/align][align=left]b. Three (3) year response time[/align][align=left]2. More intensive management required[/align][align=left]a. Harvest management[/align][align=left]b. Marketing[/align][align=left]c. Feeding program management[/align][align=left]3. Cost[/align][align=left]a. Feed and equipment[/align][align=left]b. Labor[/align][align=left]4. Feeding non-target animals[/align][align=left][/align][align=left]An important consideration in any feeding program is the type of feed to be used. Feed types vary from fertilized food plots to commercial cubes, pellets and blocks. In East Texas, the most popular method of supplementing the diet of deer is to plant food plots. Deer eat most agricultural crops but prefer those which are fertilized. Fertilization of native plant species will also increase usage of these plants by deer. [/align][align=left][/align][align=left]On the Kerr Wildlife Area in the Texas Hill Country, deer in research pens consume three to five pounds of 16 percent protein pellets per day per animal. The age of the deer as well as the season of the year affect the amounts of food taken by the animals. Bucks will increase food consumption during antler development and does will consume more feed during lactation.[/align][align=left][/align][align=left]During the fall and winter seasons, following weaning, fawns will increase the food[/align][align=left]consumption. Doe deer also require nutrition during the fall and winter months for good reproductive success.[/align][align=left][/align][align=left]In the Texas Hill Country the most popular feed used to supplement the diet of deer is corn, although it is one of the poorest types of deer feed available. Corn is low in protein (approximately seven to ten percent) and high in carbohydrates. [/align][align=left][/align][align=left]Corn does not provide adequate protein levels needed for development of bone and muscle; however, corn may be used as an energy supplement during very cold period of the winter. A deer must obtain at least 6 to 7 percent crude protein diet just to maintain rumen function. A diet of less that 10 percent protein will result in inferior animals and poor antler development. Deer need a daily diet of 12 to 16 percent protein for optimum development of bone and muscle. Dr. Varner feels that at times the protein content in supplemental feeds fed during antler rowth and lactation should be 20 percent. He states “I agree that the total protein level in the diet does not need to be over 16 percent. [/align][align=left][/align][align=left]A higher level will not hurt the deer, it is just more protein than they can effectively utilize. The 20 percent protein feed is not designed to be fed as the total diet. It is a supplement to the natural diet during periods of nutritional stress such as antler development or late stages of gestation and lactation. My research (Barnes and Varner, 1989) has shown that during certain times of the year or during drought, the forage that deer are consuming may be as low as 6 to 7 percent digestible protein. Unfortunately, many times there are periods when bucks are growing antlers and does are lactating. [/align][align=left][/align][align=left]During this time a 20 percent protein supplement can be used effectively to raise the protein in the total diet to an acceptable level. It is much like feeding your cows 41 percent protein cottonseed cake during the winter to raise the protein level in the cow’s diet to a level that will maintain acceptable production. In addition, when a buck is growing antlers, I would much rather feed him a little more than he needs rather than short him. Once antler development is complete then you can feed the 16percent protein feed.”[/align][align=left][/align][align=left]Minerals most important to a deer’s body and antler growth are calcium and phosphorus. Most Texas range lands are adequate in calcium but deficient in phosphorus. If supplemental feed is made available to white-tailed deer it should have an adequate supply of calcium and particularly phosphorus. Many trace mineral are important to deer but natural forage usually contains sufficient amounts for body and antler growth. In past studies, optimum antler and body growth were obtained when deer were fed a diet containing 0.64 percent calcium and 0.56 percent phosphorus. Calcium-phosphorus ratios ranging from one to one or two to one are sufficient. Greater amounts of one of these minerals may be detrimental even though the supply of the other is adequate.[/align][align=left][/align][align=left]RECOMMENDED NUTRIENT LEVEL IN DEER DIETS by: Larry W. Varner, Ph.D.[/align][align=left][/align][align=left]Deer Needs Content in Grains[/align][align=left] Nutrients Adults Fawns Corn Milo Wheat[/align][align=left]Crude Protein, % 13-14 16 9.90 10.10 13.10[/align][align=left]TDN, % 60-68a 6580.00 76.00 77.00[/align][align=left]Calcium, % .4-.75b .6 0 03 0.040.05[/align][align=left]Phosphorus,% .3-.45b 0.40.28 0.30 0.35[/align][align=left]Magnesium, % 0.25 0.250.10 0.13 0.14[/align][align=left]Potassium, % 0.6 0. 750.33 0.31 0.41[/align][align=left]Selenium, ppm0.25 0.25 0.13 0.20 0.25[/align][align=left]Cobalt,ppm 0.3 0.3 0.38 0.50 0.40[/align][align=left]Copper,ppm 15 183.50 4.30 5.80[/align][align=left]Iron,ppm250 29040.00 50.00 60.00[/align][align=left]Manganese, ppm 100 110 5.70 15.80 41.50[/align][align=left]Iodine, ppm 1 1 >0.01 >0.01 0.25[/align][align=left]Zinc, ppm 75 100 20.00 17.00 31.00[/align][align=left]Vitamin A,1U/1b 2000 3000 4000.00 180.00 0.00[/align][align=left]Vitamin D, 1U/1b 500 550 0.00 0.00 0.00[/align][align=left]Vitamin E, 1U/1b 40 60 9.00 5.50 7.10[/align][align=left][/align][align=left](a) Feed higher energy levels during periods of climatic or physiological stress.[/align][align=left](b) Feed higher mineral levels during lactation or active antler growth.[/align][align=left][/align][align=left]Studies conducted by Texas Parks and Wildlife biologists have indicated that vast[/align][align=left]acreages of Texas’ deer range are overgrazed by domestic livestock and the levels of crude protein in available deer forage is below desired levels. The exception is in the South Texas Brush Country where protein content in forage varies from season to season but maintains a higher annual average than most other areas of the State. In the Edwards Plateau, or Hill Country, the average annual protein content in the vegetation utilized as deer food is below the desired level on the majority of the range. Add an over-populated deer herd, overgrazed and overbrowsed ranges and the result is relatively smaller deer and bucks with inferior antlers. [/align][align=left][/align][align=left]If deer have the genetic capability for quality antlers and body size, good quality bucks result from a combination of adequate nutrition, good calcium and phosphorus during early stages of body and antler development, and age. A buck will usually be at the peak of body and antler development at 5.5 to 6.5 years of age.[/align][align=left][/align][align=left]Before a supplemental feeding program is started, a landowner should examine his ranch and determine if (1) his deer herd is at or slightly below the carrying capacity of the range, (2) the range is in good condition, and (3) his annual deer harvest is adequate. Accurate field records need to be maintained to manage a deer herd. Records of annual harvest of bucks and does, field dressed weights of animals harvested, antler measurements of bucks (inside spread, basal circumference of main beam, number of points) and, most important of all, the age of the[/align][align=left]animals harvested should be collected. The importance of recording the age of harvested animals can not be stressed enough. Other information that might be of importance to the rancher is a vegetation inventory of forage plants available and annual usage of forage plants. [/align][align=left][/align][align=left]Parks and Wildlife Department biologists are available to assist landowners in establishing harvest quotas for their particular ranch. If the deer herd is on poor range and overpopulated due to inadequate harvest, then a supplemental feeding program would be a waste of money and effort. When the decision is made to initiate a supplemental feeding program, the land manager must decide what type of program best suits his operation.[/align]