New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research abstracts
Growth and carcass production of young farmed deer grazing sulla (Hedysarum
coronarium), chicory (Cichorium intybus), or perennial ryegrass
(Lolium perenne)/white clover (Trifolium repens) pasture in New
Zealand
SIMONE O. HOSKIN
T. N. BARRY*
Institute of Food Nutrition and Human Health
Massey University
Private Bag 11222
Palmerston North, New Zealand
P. R. WILSON
W. A. G. CHARLESTON
Institute of Veterinary Animal and Biomedical Sciences
Massey University
Private Bag 11222
Palmerston North, New Zealand
P. D. KEMP
Institute of Natural Resources
Massey University
Private Bag 11222
Palmerston North, New Zealand
Abstract Liveweight gain, voluntary feed intake, and carcass
production were compared for pure red and hybrid (0.75 red: 0.25 elk) deer
calves grazing sulla (Hedysarum coronarium cv. Necton), chicory
(Cichorium intybus cv. Grasslands Puna), or perennial ryegrass
(Lolium perenne cv. Nui)/white clover (Trifolium repens cv. Huia)
pasture from weaning in March to slaughter in December of the same year, at
approx one year of age.
Organic matter digestibility (OMD) of diet selected was similar for all
forages during autumn, but OMD of chicory (88.4%) was greater than both sulla
(78.3%) and pasture (83.8%) during spring (P < 0.05). Sulla
diet selected contained 5.1% condensed tannin (CT) in autumn and 8.4% CT in
spring (P < 0.05); pasture and chicory contained 0.14-0.26%
CT. VFI of deer grazing sulla was greater than for deer grazing chicory in
autumn (2027 versus 1014 g OM d-1; P = 0.07), but
not spring (2029 versus 2251 g OM d-1). In autumn, deer gained 293 g
d-1 on sulla, 218 g d-1 on pasture
(P < 0.01), and 183 g d-1 on chicory
(P < 0.001). In winter, deer gained 150 g d-1 on
sulla and 133 g d-1 on pasture. Final liveweight of deer grazing
sulla was 106 kg, which was significantly higher than 97 kg for deer
on pasture or 95 kg for deer on chicory (P < 0.01).
Deer grazing sulla had greater carcass weights (59.9 kg) than deer grazing
pasture (52.3 kg) or chicory (52.1 kg) (P < 0.01
hinds; P < 0.05 stags).
Hybrid stags had significantly greater carcass weights than red stags
(64.1 kg versus 56.3 kg; P < 0.01) and hybrid
hinds (52.8 kg; P < 0.001). It was concluded that the
increased growth and carcass weight of young deer grazing sulla was caused by a
higher feeding value of sulla, with a component of this being increased
utilisation of digested nutrients.
Keywords red deer; hybrid deer; sulla; chicory; perennial
ryegrass/white clover pasture; post-weaning growth
New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research, 1999, Vol. 42: 83-92
0028-8233/99/4201-0083 $7.00/0 (c) The Royal Society of New Zealand
1999
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