Growth responses in red deer calves and hinds grazing red clover, chicory or perennial ryegrass/white clover swards during lactation

Niezen, J.H.; Barry, T. N.; Hodgson, J.; Wilson, P. R.; Ataja, A. M.; Parker, W. J.; Holmes, C. W.

doi:10.1017/s0021859600077133

Cited by 34 publications

(30 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…These results were corroborated in other experimental settings for ruminants. In New Zealand, farmed red deer (males, females, and calves) fed experimental diets of red clover with 3-5% higher digestibility had higher body mass at the end of one year, and females on the high quality diet had increased milk yield than did a control group (Niezen et al 1993, Semiadi et al 1993. Domestic sheep foraging on summer diets of high-quality Salix spp.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Multi‐scale Test of the Forage Maturation Hypothesis in a Partially Migratory Ungulate Population

Hebblewhite¹,

Merrill²,

McDermid³

2008

Ecological Monographs

403

599

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Abstract. The forage maturation hypothesis (FMH) proposes that ungulate migration is driven by selection for high forage quality. Because quality declines with plant maturation, but intake declines at low biomass, ungulates are predicted to select for intermediate forage biomass to maximize energy intake by following phenological gradients during the growing season. We tested the FMH in the Canadian Rocky Mountains by comparing forage availability and selection by both migrant and nonmigratory resident elk (Cervus elaphus) during three growing seasons from [2002][2003][2004]. First, we confirmed that the expected trade-off between forage quality and quantity occurred across vegetation communities. Next, we modeled forage biomass and phenology during the growing season by combining ground and remote-sensing approaches. The growing season started 2.2 days earlier every 1 km east of the continental divide, was delayed by 50 days for every 1000-m increase in elevation, and occurred 8 days earlier on south aspects. Migrant and resident selection for forage biomass was then compared across three spatial scales (across the study area, within summer home ranges, and along movement paths) using VHF and GPS telemetry locations from 119 female elk. Migrant home ranges occurred closer to the continental divide in areas of higher topographical diversity, resulting in migrants consistently selecting for intermediate biomass at the two largest scales, but not at the finest scale along movement paths. In contrast, residents selected maximum forage biomass across all spatial scales. To evaluate the consequences of selection, we compared exposure at telemetry locations of migrant and resident elk to expected forage biomass and digestibility. The expected digestibility for migrant elk in summer was 6.5% higher than for residents, which was corroborated with higher fecal nitrogen levels for migrants. The observed differences in digestibility should increase migrant elk body mass, pregnancy rates, and adult and calf survival rates. Whether bottom-up effects of improved forage quality are realized will ultimately depend on trade-offs between forage and predation. Nevertheless, this study provides comprehensive evidence that montane ungulate migration leads to greater access to higher-quality forage relative to nonmigratory congeners, as predicted by the forage maturation hypothesis, resulting primarily from large-scale selection patterns.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Multi‐scale Test of the Forage Maturation Hypothesis in a Partially Migratory Ungulate Population

Hebblewhite¹,

Merrill²,

McDermid³

2008

Ecological Monographs

403

599

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“…The provision of ample amounts of a high-quality forage at this stage ensures the optimal productive performance of both hinds and calves (Niezen et al 1993).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nursing and feeding behaviour of confined red deer(cervus elaphus scoticus)in the Mexican highlands∗

Vásquez

Olvera

Siqueiros

et al. 2004

New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research

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Red deer (Cervus elaphus scoticus) hinds were confined before parturition in 20 × 30 m earth-floored pens and offered freshly cut legumegrass mixed pasture (Experiment 1) or lucerne hay (Experiment 2). In Experiment 1, four hinds were placed in a single pen; all parturitions took place within 24 h. Animals were monitored by a single observer for 24-h periods twice weekly for 10 weeks. Number of daily suckling episodes increased with age while their duration decreased. Consumption of forage started around the fourth week and, by weaning, calves had spent an average of 105.5 min eating forage and 44.2 min ruminating daily, compared with hinds, which consumed forage for 6.05 h and ruminated for 1.77 h per day. In Experiment 2, 24 hinds and their calves were confined in four pens for 12 weeks. Four observers each monitored the activities of a randomly chosen calf from 0800 to 1330 h and from 1430 to 2000 h. Activities were analysed as proportions of total activity using linear and quadratic regressions. Time spent suckling increased until Day 26 (110 seconds, in a total of three bouts), decreasing to 13 seconds (in a total of eight bouts) by Day 73. Most of the hinds (70%) allonursed (nursing a calf other than its own), some as soon as 2 days post-partum. Forage consumption by the calves decreased from 37.1 s at 8 days to 12.6 and 17.1 s at 59 and 73 days, respectively. The regression equation for time spent suckling (proportion of total activity) against calf age (days) showed a quadratic effect: y = 0.76 -0.026 day + 0.00023 day 2 (R 2 = 0.797), whilst time spent eating forage showed an opposite quadratic trend: y = -0.17 + 0.28 day -0.0002 day 2 (R 2 = 0.761).

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“…Hence, red clover has some advantages as an alternative forage for weaner red deer during autumn and spring, compared to perennial ryegrass/white clover-based pasture, and consistently produced heavier deer carcasses (Table 7). Niezen et al (1993) also reported that red clover had a high nutritive value during summer, resulting in a higher fawn growth rate (433 versus 333 g/day) from the hinds grazing on red clover forage than on perennial ryegrass/ white clover pasture. This was also associated with higher voluntary feed intake on red clover.…”

Section: Growth On Red Clover Dietmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…It is considered as a summerautumn alternative crop for deer farming, because both the growth rate and nutritive value of perennial ryegrass decline during summer. Offering a high allowance to hinds grazing on red clover forage during lactation significantly improved fawn growth rates (433 versus 333 g/day) and weaning weights (49.5 versus 42.8 kg), compared to those grazing perennial ryegrass/white clover pasture (Niezen et al 1993). …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Effects of grazing red clover(Trifolium pratense)or perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne)/white lover(Trifolium repens)pastures upon growth and venison production from weaner red deer(Cervus elaphus)

Edi

Barry

Wilson

et al. 1994

New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research

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Research, 1994, Vol. 37: 19-27 0028-8233/94/3701-respectively). During winter, all animals were combined and grazed together on perennial ryegrass/white clover pasture, at a pasture residual DM of 1100 kg DM/ha. Pre-grazing herbage mass for red clover and perennial ryegrass/white clover were respectively 3568 and 3706 kg DM/ha in autumn, and 2726 and 2150 kg DM/ha in spring, and 1736 kg DM/ha for perennial ryegrass/white clover in winter. Post-grazing herbage mass for red clover and perennial ryegrass/white clover averaged respectively 1822 and 1882 in autumn and 1705 and 1334 in spring, and 1170 kg DM/ha for perennial ryegrass/white clover in winter. Total nitrogen (N) concentration and organic matter digestibility of both feed on offer and diet selected were higher in red clover than perennial ryegrass/ white clover. Liveweight gain of red clover stags (237 versus 207 g/day) and hinds (197 versus 159 g/day) was significantly higher than that of perennial ryegrass/white clover animals in autumn (P < 0.01) and in spring (346 versus 281; 260 versus 188 g/day; P < 0.001). Weaner stags and hinds grazing red clover forage had significantly higher voluntary feed intake than the comparable animals grazing perennial ryegrass/white clover pasture in both autumn (P < 0.05) or spring (P < 0.001). By 12 months of age, stags grazing red clover were 6 kg heavier and hinds 7 kg heavier than animals grazing perennial ryegrass/white clover forage. All (100%) red clover stags attained the minimum target slaughter liveweight (92 kg liveweight; 50 kg carcass) by 12 months of age at the end of November, compared to 90% of perennial ryegrass/white clover stags. Carcass weights (kg) and dressing percentage (%) of red clover stags were significantly higher than those of perennial ryegrass/white clover stags (58.9 versus 53.3 kg, P < 0.01; 56.2 versus 52.4%, P < 0.001), but the carcass GR was not different (P > 0.05) either before or after being adjusted to equal carcass weight. It was concluded that early venison production from grazed perennial ryegrass/white clover pastures is possible, and that this can be 20New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research, 1994, Vol. 37 further improved by inputs of red clover. Red clover offers very good potential as a special-purpose forage for venison production.

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Growth responses in red deer calves and hinds grazing red clover, chicory or perennial ryegrass/white clover swards during lactation

Cited by 34 publications

References 16 publications

A Multi‐scale Test of the Forage Maturation Hypothesis in a Partially Migratory Ungulate Population

A Multi‐scale Test of the Forage Maturation Hypothesis in a Partially Migratory Ungulate Population

Nursing and feeding behaviour of confined red deer(cervus elaphus scoticus)in the Mexican highlands∗

Effects of grazing red clover(Trifolium pratense)or perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne)/white lover(Trifolium repens)pastures upon growth and venison production from weaner red deer(Cervus elaphus)

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