Performance and dietary preferences of white‐tailed deer grazing chicory, birdsfoot trefoil or alfalfa in north central Alberta

Abstract

Little information exists on the performance of deer on alternative forage species in northern temperate environments during summer and fall, the period of inherent maximum growth in deer. In performance and choice experiments, we compared live weight gain (g/kg(0.75)/day), absolute [kg/ha dry matter (DM)] and relative (% DM) herbage utilization, relative preference index (RPI) as well as plant community visitation of white-tailed deer grazing alfalfa (Medicago sativa), birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus) or chicory (Cichorium intybus) in north central Alberta, Canada. Herbage phytomass and quality was also measured on the grazed pastures. Alfalfa had higher dry matter yields and crude protein concentrations than chicory and trefoil. Chicory had lower neutral detergent fiber concentrations than the other forages. Tannin concentrations were greatest in birds foot trefoil (nearly 55 g/kg DM), well above those in the other forages (<5 g/kg DM). Live weight gain was similar among deer feeding within the paddocks seeded to birds foot trefoil and chicory, and more than two times higher (p < 0.05) than deer feeding in paddocks seeded to alfalfa. Deer spent more grazing time (about 40%) on chicory pastures than on alfalfa and birds foot trefoil pastures. RPI values were greatest for birds foot trefoil at 2.11, intermediate for chicory at 1.40, and lowest for alfalfa at <0.60. Absolute herbage utilization remained similar (p > 0.05) among the three forage species. In contrast, relative herbage utilization was greater from birds foot trefoil (52% DM) than chicory (40% DM) or alfalfa (25% DM). These results suggest that the use of alfalfa with other alternative forages may prove beneficial to deer production, rather than using alfalfa pasture alone.

Chemical composition and in vitro digestibility of Stylosanthes guianensis varieties

“…To improve the efficiency of nitrogen digestion, Barry et al (1986) suggested that the level of tannin in forages for ruminants should be 3-4% DM. The TT content of stylo in the present study was lower than this suggested level and lower than in alfalfa (Medicago sativa) (Chapman et al 2009). This could be attributed to planting location, plant morphological fraction, environmental factors, plant parts and maturity stage (Ajayi and Babayemi 2008;Hue et al 2008).…”

“…The TT content of stylo in the present study was lower than this suggested level and lower than in alfalfa ( Medicago sativa ) (Chapman et al . ). This could be attributed to planting location, plant morphological fraction, environmental factors, plant parts and maturity stage (Ajayi and Babayemi ; Hue et al .…”

The complexity of interacting nutritional drivers behind food selection, a review of northern cervids

“…Most of these studies measured intake rates and were conducted with animals in captivity using manufactured tannins not naturally available in northern plants, such as single specific tannins (tannic acid) or the mixture quebracho (but see, e.g., Sauve and Cote , Chapman et al. ). The partial avoidance observed in these tannin studies may therefore be a result of non‐familiarity rather than an adapted nutritional strategy applicable to the species in natural settings (Rautio et al.…”

Herbage dry‐matter production and forage quality of three legumes and four non‐leguminous forbs grown in single‐species stands

“…This is in contrast to the results of Chapman et al . () in Canada; they reported that lucerne had higher yields and CP concentrations than chicory and birdsfoot trefoil, and chicory had lower NDF concentrations than the other forages. In a study in the Netherlands, Warner et al .…”