Nutrition & Supplemental Feeding Original Power Point Created by: Andy Harrison Modified by the GA Agriculture Education Curriculum Office July 2002
Nutrition The greatest effects on antler quality are: –Age –Genetics –Nutrition
Types of Feeders Generalist feeders –Elk, moose, and mule deer –Stay in the same area and eat what is available in large quantities Specialized feeders –Whitetail –Wide range –Stop in various areas looking for specific feeds
Forage Categories Grasses and grass-like plants Forbaceous plants –Weeds Browse –Leaves and twigs of woody plants Fruits of woody plants Mushrooms
Deer Forage Just because it’s green does not mean its good deer feed Improved grasses such as coastal bermuda offer little nutrition to Whitetails Grasses and sedges –High fiber content –Less digestible to deer
Deer Forage Only a small portion of the diet is grass; usually < 5% High grass intake occurs in late winter and early spring Newly emerged or developed grass shoots are more digestible Exceptions – cereal grains –Wheat, oats, rye, and ryegrass are highly nutritious
Deer Forage In all areas deer prefer forbaceous plants (weeds) –Highly nutritious and easily digestible –Some studies have been hard to validate due to the rapid digestion of weeds –Weeds only occur for a short period of time –Value depends on weather or environmental conditions
Deer Forage Weeds are high in protein –Up to 35% protein High in phosphorous and some vitamins
Deer Forage Browse is a mainstay in most deer diets –Includes the leaves and twigs of woody plants Lower in quality than weeds but more dependable and available Types of woody plants –Determinant –Indeterminate
Woody Plant Types Determinant –Growth usually occurs in spring and fall –After initial growth, young, tender shoots emerge Indeterminate –Growth is continuous –Usually affected by rainfall –New growth after rain period
Deer Forage Woody plants – new growth varies with topographic position –For example, lowlands verses hills Deer adjust movement to take advantage of this pattern
Nutrition Mast – hard and soft fruits of woody plants –Includes corns, pecans, blackberries, and grapes Seasonable in availability Counted on for supplement to diet Mast is more important in saturation herd populations
Nutrition Mast usually important in colder months Used as an energy source Acorns –High in fats and carbohydrates –Low in protein Corn –Attractant –Energy source Apples and carrots –Consumed in low mast production years
Mushrooms Critical; especially in phosphorous poor soils –Mushrooms have a high phosphorous content Mushrooms normally grow in wetter parts of the year Generally a good food source at this time
Meeting the Need With Native Forage Protein and nutritional needs vary at different times of the year. Generally, protein levels of forage are highest in spring and fall Nutrition is affected by climate as well as by topography Compensates for seasonal availability
Meeting Needs Deer have ability to recycle protein in their bodies –Recycle urea in the blood –Thus can live without high protein feed for a portion of the year Importance of seasonal protein availability –Fawn production –Growth of antlers
Supplemental Feeding Concept An attempt to augment or supplement the quality and perhaps the quantity of available native forages Never intended to be “replacements” Should bring seasonal or periodic deficiencies in line with physiological needs of deer
Supplemental Feeding Popular with hunters, land owners, and sportsman Mania’s - Joint vetch –Sidetrack sound balanced approach
Quick Fix Mania No magic method –Spike buck Caused some to eliminate age class of herd –Joint vetch Used for imbalance in feeds
Basic Components Protein Energy Phosphorous Calcium –In most cases, one or more are lacking at some point during the year
Basic Components Even in well managed herds, some component may be the limiting factor in reaching potential Supplemental feeding helps reduce the negative impact of limiting factors Population control Habitat management
Supplementing Feeding Food plots Mineral supplements
Feeds Feed requirements are different than those of other animals Corn –High in energy –Low in protein (7-9%) –Low in certain amino acids –Useful when carbohydrates and fat are needed –Consumed late fall and winter
Feeds Prepared Feeds –High in protein (16%+) –2:1 calcium: phosphorus ratio –Essential vitamins and other nutrients –Carbohydrates and fats are added to supply energy –Most are pelleted
Problems With Pellets Do not stand up to weather Feeders –Should provide dry storage –Do not limit access – especially to bucks –Reduce possibility of spoilage or pest problems –Should provide enough capacity
Feeders In growing season, bucks do not like to stick their heads down into a feeder or any other area that may cause damage to velvet They also do not like the idea of sticking their heads in a closed box
Feed Spoilage Fungi –Sometimes toxic Disease organisms can be transmitted to infected animals Feeder should have drainage holes in bottom Feeders should be disinfected periodically
Timed Feeders Mostly used for baiting deer for harvest Seldom dispense adequate amounts Susceptible to moisture contamination Solar powered are best Best for dispensing corn or grain type feeds
Supplemental Feeders Use declines after rainfall period Supplemental feeding critical after hunting season is closed –Offsets late winter stress Located in home ranges –Deer will not move to include feeder in home area –Locate near travel paths and in protected areas
Cost of Supplemental Feeding Normally eat 4 – 6 pounds/day Cost is around $200 - $300/ton Each deer will consume 1,000 #/yr in a 210 day feeding period
Food Plots Should be in areas of adequate rainfall – east of 35” line Should be properly managed and distributed
Properly Managed Food Plots Plant species should match climate and soil Adjust soil for pH and nutrients (NPK) There is no one single plant variety for every situation or climate Avoid –Varieties touted to grow in all conditions –Varieties promising to solve all deer nutritional problems
Choice of Plant Species Supplemental feeding year round Determine what season is most critical for nutritional stress Make sure feed provides correct nutrients when needed –16% protein –2:1 Ca: P ratio –> 50% digestible
Planning Food Plots Timing – clovers have good summer potential but do not reach peak in critical time Ladino clover peaks in May/June in the South and usually competes with native forage
Planning of Food Plots Cost consideration –Monitor cost of product –Competitive with native vegetation –Cost of controlling undesirable vegetation
Combination Plantings Cereal grains and legumes can be combined for cool seasons –Arrow leaf clover, ryegrass, oats, and elbon rye can be used on upland clay to sandy loam sites –White dutch clover and wheat can be used on bottom lands Inoculate legumes – proper inoculants
Plantings Cereal grains and clovers – not much chance of winter kill Summer Plantings – common field peas –High yield potential –Highly nutritious –In dry weather they do not produce vegetative growth because they are usually eaten quickly
Plantings Peas –In favorable years plants mature and then deer consume entire plants rapidly –Basically a short-term feed Summer clovers and legumes –Type depends on geographic region –Alyce clover, sweet clover, red clover, and joint vetch are good choices
Establishment Cost for slightly acid soil –Liming $25 –Fertilizer$40 –Seed$27 –Labor$15 –Total $107
Establishment Cost for properly maintained soil (mowed each fall) –Fertilizer$20 –Seed$20 –Labor$15 –Total$55 –Can further reduce cost by selecting species that re- seed, such as arrow leaf clover
Planting Divide food plot in half –Half cool season –Half warm season Include a year-round supplemental food Plant a small plot test to assess varieties and management Always soil test
Mineral Supplementation Salt in large quantities is not healthy for deer Mineral should be limited to no more than 35% salt Critical components of the supplement are calcium and phosphorous Deer seldom lick blocks –They usually wait for salt to melt under rainfall
Minerals Best fed in small troughs covered by a roof Laying a trough in the ground results in a potential for spread of disease pathogens Must be periodically cleaned