The feed intake and heat production of the young black-tailed deer (Odocoileus hemionus columbianus)

Abstract

WOOD. 1970. The feed intake and heat production of the young black-tailed deer (Odocoileus hemionus columbianus). Can. J . Zool. 48: 275-282. The feed intake, resting heat production, and growth rate of prepubertal black-tailed deer fawns of both sexes have been studied under captive conditions. Comparisons of these hdings with those of other workers on domestic and other wild species are presented. The present results provide some explanation for the unusual growth behavior of this species when reared on a high plane of nutrition. IntroductionEarlier studies (11) from this laboratory have shown that members of the genus Odocoileus follow a cyclical pattern in their growth and development. Under nutritional conditions that afford a near-maximum expression of the genetic growth potential, the weight growth curve displays periods of rapid weight accretion during spring and summer followed by periods of weight stasis or loss in fall and winter. Their nutrient energy intake under ad libitum feeding conditions shows, as would be expected, a parallel cyclical course. Observations on the behavior of these animals suggests that the pattern of energy use does not conform in all details with that which might be expected from their feed intake, particularly after the first year of life.This communication presents the findings from experiments designed to determine the feed intake and resting heat production of the deer over the first year of life.

Energy metabolism of the roe deer

“…Metabolism of fawns was measured in a smaller plexiglass chamber, 601 in volume, with the air flow of 150-4001Xhr -i. At those flow rates of air through the employed chambers the changes in the content of oxygen and carbon diioxide did not exceed 2%, and thus could not produce any physiological disturbances in the animals (B 1 a x t e r, 1962; McEwan, 1970;Nor dan et al, 1970).…”

“…Energy metabolism was studied only in a few species of American deer, red deer and reindeer {e.g. Brockway & Maloiy, 1967;Silver et al, 1969;Nor dan et al, 1970; M c E w a n, 1970).…”

Seasonal intake and digestibility of natural foods by roe-deer

“…The n u tri tive value, and not th e am ount of food available, determ ines th e level of consum ption and its utilization by anim als (Nagy et al, 1969;M orris&Kovner, 1970; A m m a n n et al ., 1973). The q u a lity of food also determ ines ra te of grow th (Newsome et al, 1968; U 11 r e y et al, 1967; Nordan et al, 1970), breeding success (N o r d a n et al ., 1968), the an im al's condition, length of life, and ability to survive th rough u nfavourable w in ter conditions (U r n e s s et al., 1971).…”

“…The n u tri tive value, and not th e am ount of food available, determ ines th e level of consum ption and its utilization by anim als (Nagy et al, 1969; M orris&Kovner, 1970; A m m a n n et al, 1973). The q u a lity of food also determ ines ra te of grow th (Newsome et al, 1968; U 11 r e y et al, 1967;Nordan et al, 1970), breeding success (N o r d a n et al, 1968), the an im al's condition, length of life, and ability to survive th rough u nfavourable w in ter conditions (U r n e s s et al, 1971).N u tritiv e value should therefore, in addition to estim ation of th e n a tu ra l food supply, be th e basic criterion for evaluating the food carrying capacity of the h a b ita t for deer. A m easure of th e n u tritiv e value of food is, according to Barnes (1965), its chem ical com position and digestibility.…”

Wildlife habitats in managed rangelands—the Great Basin of southeastern Oregon: mule deer.

“…When basal and maintenance needs are met, energy surpluses are used for production, which includes growth, storage of reserves, reproduction, and care of young (Blaxter 1962;Brody 1945Brody ,1956Findlay 1954;Grace and Easterbee 1979;Holter et al 1975;Mitchell 1962;Moen 1968bMoen ,1968cMoen , 1973Nordan et al 1970;Ozoga and Gysel 1972;Silver et al 1969 and.…”