Nutrition of Deer

This chapter offers a comprehensive exploration of the nutritional management and assessment for deer, crucial in various industries such as food, sport, and exhibits. The chapter delves into the nutritional triad, encompassing deer's nutrient requirements, body condition, life stage, gender, feeding behavior, health status, feed composition, nutrient composition, nutrient balance, palatability, feeding management, dietary ingredients, ration adequacy, feed availability, and water availability. The chapter discusses deer's nutritional physiology, focusing on their ruminant nature, forestomach composition, and the role of rumen microbes in plant material digestion. It explores feeding patterns, categorizing deer as concentrate selectors, intermediate browsers, and grass and roughage grazers, and comparing these patterns with other ruminant species. The chapter provides an in-depth analysis of the nutritional needs of deer, focusing on energy, protein, minerals, and vitamins. Seasonal variations in energy requirements are significant, with winter needs being approximately 45 kcal/kg lower than summer requirements in temperate climates. Pregnancy and lactation significantly elevate energy requirements.