Red Deer production. 1. Physiology, nutritionnal requirements and husbandry of mature animals

Abstract

Intensive farmed Red Deer production for meat is actually increasing in France after Scotland and New-Zealand where the first commercial flocks were created 20 years ago. This new ruminant species presents some particularities among which a very large seasonal variation of voluntary DM intake, nearly twice higher in summer when compared to winter and a lower digestibility of poor quality diets (5 to 7 % less than the sheep). Maintenance requirements of deer and beef cattle are very similar but stags have specific requirements for annual antlers growth (energy and mainly minerals which are partly covered by skeleton demineralisation).Twinning is very uncommon for hinds whose fertility depends mainly on live weight at mating (minimum weight 60 kg). Calves birth-weight is close to 8-9 kg, it varies with sex and general level of dam’s nutrition. Hinds produce 120 to 200 kg milk in 100 days according to pasture quality. This milk contains on average 10 % fat and 8 % proteins i.e. ; twice more than cow’s milk.