Development of Specialist Forage Systems for Deer Production

Red clover (RC) (Trlfolium pratense L.) and chicory (C) (Cichorium intybus L.) were evaluated in 3 experiments as alternative forages to perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) (0.85)-white clover (Trifolium repens L.) (0.15) pasture (PRG) for deer production. During lactation (summer), fawns grazed with their hinds on RC grew faster (410-433 g/day) than their contemporaries reared on PRO (322/g/day). Fawns reared on C during lactation were intermediate, From weaning to 12 months of age, young deer were consistently heavier when grazing RC than PRG, with the advantage at 12 months being 7 kg for stags and 3 kg for hinds. During the post-weaning phase, 100 and 75%, respectively, of stags grazing RC or PRO attained the target slaughter criterion of 92 kg live weight (50 kg carcass) by 1 year of age. It is concluded that RC offers considerable potential as a special-purpose forage for deer production.