The Quality of Roe Deer (Capreolus Capreolus) Diet in the Winter and Spring Periods Based on Rumen Contents

Abstract

Summary The purpose of this study is to compare the specifics of winter and spring diets of the roe deer using rumen content analysis. A chemical analysis was performed on a total of 13 samples of roe deer rumen contents: 7 samples of winter diet rumen contents and 6 samples of spring diet rumen contents. The following parameters were examined in this study: the level of crude protein and the content of fiber (NDF, ADF and ADL). The results obtained were processed by descriptive statistics and compared using F-tests. Consequently, certain deviations in the quality of roe deer nutrition were found in both winter and spring periods of the year. A lack of protein and energy can pose significant problems to roe deer, especially in the cooler periods of the year. Approximately a total of 17MJ/day is the maximum assumed energy required for animals kept in enclosure. The need for crude protein varies from 30.8% to 34.4% DM. This problem can be tackled if roe deer are adequately fed with quality bulky and concentrated feed, despite the fact that the animals adapt metabolically to seasonal variations.

Energy intake and nutritional balance of roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) in special Bavarian landscapes in southern Germany

“…Comparing the seasons across all habitats, the CP values found in this study, with the exception of those in the PF habitat in winter, are within the range of values found in other studies, with a minimum in winter of 20% DM, and a maximum of 25% DM in spring. In the other studies, the CP values range between 20% DM and 36% DM (Brüggemann et al 1967;Djordjević et al 2006;Popović et al 2009;Beuković et al 2022). At the same time, in the winter half-year, the PF habitat has the highest mean values for CF, at 35.2% DM.…”

The feed preference of roe deer in different habitats

“…According to Faragó (1993), cereals provided the main green vegetable food during the winter, and therefore this habitat type was chosen by almost 50% of the roe deer in February. In grassland habitats, the winter diet of roe deer consists of dry grasses, herbs, lichen, and green shoots of trees, which are low in quality ingredients (Beuković et al, 2022).…”

Seasonal changes in the dietary compositions of rusa deer in Pangandaran Nature Reserve, West Java, Indonesia

“…The ecology of herbivorous mammals at high latitudes is strongly affected by environmental seasonality (Geist, 1998). This is well documented in cervids, including reindeer (Rangifer rangifer, Hiltunen et al, 2022), red deer (Cervus elaphus, Gebert 2008), wapiti (elk, C. elaphus canadensis, Schneider et al, 2006), mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus, Krausman et al, 1991), white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus, Dykes et al, 2020), roe deer (Capreolus capreolus, Beukovic et al, 2022) and sika deer (C. nippon, McCullough et al, 2009). Their food compositions vary seasonally: cervids can feed on high-quality plant leaves during summer, while they have to consume low-quality foods such as twigs, bark and dead leaves during winter.…”