"FIXED FORMULA" FEEDS
This article was originally printed in the April / May 2000 issue of Tracking The Industry. . .
The deer industry is a very popular, fast growing wildlife enterprise; a business for some - a hobby for others. Proper nutrition is very important to the success of your operation regardless of your size. It has often been said that "proper nutrition" will help an animal to achieve its genetic potential while eliminating a lot of problems.
In the wild, deer diets consist of mostly roughage supplying protein and fiber necessary for a ruminant animal to live. If they are fortunate enough to be born near cropland, grains may be incorporated into their diet supplying a concentrated source of energy and protein. Their territory may cover hundreds or thousands of acres but it is necessary to provide them with a plentiful source of food, shelter and a sense of security.
Left to their own they will survive. When deer are penned into a given area, their habitat is sometimes less than ideal. Deer numbers are sometimes concentrated due to limited land availability and the problems begin. Stress on your deer increases and so do their nutritional needs.
Some deer are fed baled hay and oats and other single grains as their sole diets, but biologists indicate this may do more harm than good as important vitamins and minerals may be lacking. Other deer may be fed only a commercially made screening pellet or cube that contains all the fiber, grain, vitamins and minerals required. Beware of these products. On paper they meet the nutritional requirements of the deer but these high fiber pellets don't supply the effective fiber needed by a ruminant animal to properly stimulate their digestive system which can lead to digestive tract ulcers.
Deer need long stemmed fiber in their diet. It is recommended you supply the needed fiber in the form of browse, baled hay, or food plots of clover and/or alfalfa, with using pellets in mind. Pellets should be designed nutritionally dense. There is no room for "fiber fillers."
A quality pellet should feature high quality plant protein sources. A "fixed formula" doesn't substitute cheap by-products from time to time to lower formula costs. A "fixed formula" provides your deer with a consistent feed from load to load. A "fixed formula" should consist of fortified B-complexes, specific amino acid complexes, proper calcium to phosphorus ratio, fat soluble vitamins balanced with macro and trace minerals and a multi-carbohydrate source.
Benefits
A healthy deer produces B vitamins within their rumen. Under stressful situations (the rut, severe weather or during transport) vitamin B production may slow down or stop (rumen shut down). Addition of B-complex helps ensure healthy animals. Natural protein sources provide quality amino acids along with bioavailable trace minerals. Healthy deer will use this as a building block to provide large antlers, grow muscle mass and it is known to improve milk production, improve reproduction and enhance immunity. Do not substitute this with urea or animal protein or you are asking for trouble. Free choice of a "fixed formula" prevents sorting and provides a consistent diet bite after bite. Free choice feeding will vary rates of digestion thus helping to prevent grain overload (acidosis) associated with pail feeding practices. Free choice feeding your deer, they will receive a fixed diet designed to prevent mineral deficiencies thus maximizing their genetic potential.
Remember with free choice "fixed formulas" the cost per tonne may go up and down with the world grain markets, pricing being the influence of that. "Non" fixed formulas will put in the back of your mind, "Are my bucks antlers going to the competitions this year?" Bucks on fixed formulas are there every year.
Brent Mitchell
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