Effects of fresh forage quality on feed intake and live weight gain of red deer in spring

Abstract

Changes in voluntary feed intake (VFI) and average daily gain (ADG) of 10- to 12-month-old male red deer (Cervus elaphus) in response to a range of pasture morphological development stages of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) and white clover (Trifolium repens L.) pasture in spring were investigated. An intake study in November 2000 tested responses to pastures spelled for 6, 8 or 10 weeks in a combined indoor/outdoor comparison over two weeks. This was followed by a 5 week grazing study which compared 3, 5 or 7 week spelling periods during November and December in 2001. Pasture spelled for 6, 8 or 10 weeks had acid detergent fibre concentrations of 216, 229 and 252 g/kg DM (P