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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 50(3)

Seasonal variations in plant mineral content and free-choice minerals consumed by deer

J. A. Estevez A B C F , T. Landete-Castillejos B C D , A. J. García B C D , F. Ceacero B C D , A. Martínez E , E. Gaspar-López B C D , A. Calatayud E and L. Gallego B C D
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Venadogen S.L. Paseo de la Innovación 1, Parque Científico y Tecnológico, 02071 Albacete, Spain.

B Sección de Recursos Cinegéticos, Instituto de Desarrollo Regional, Instituto de Desarrollo Regional, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, 02071 Albacete, Spain.

C Departamento de Ciencia y Tecnología Agroforestal y Genética, Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingenieros Agrónomos, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, 02071 Albacete, Spain.

D Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos, Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos (Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Junta de Comunidades de Castilla-La Mancha), 02071 Albacete, Spain.

E Laboratorio de Ciencia e Ingeniería de Materiales, Instituto de Desarrollo Regional, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, 02071 Albacete, Spain.

F Corresponding author. Email: jose.estevez@uclm.es

Animal Production Science 50(3) 177-185 https://doi.org/10.1071/AN09012
Submitted: 15 January 2009  Accepted: 16 February 2010   Published: 8 April 2010

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess the seasonal differences in mineral contents of plants often consumed by wild red deer located in a fenced game estate, south-eastern Spain. Forage plants were sampled throughout 1 year and analysed for macro and trace mineral concentrations. We also offered a cafeteria set of supplemented minerals to assess whether: (i) intake reflected seasonal reductions in plant content of specific minerals; or (ii) intake of mineral supplements responded to increased deer demand of minerals as a result of greater seasonal needs likely arising from lactation, antler growth or skeletal growth.

Although no significant seasonal trend was found in mineral distributions of plants, our study suggested that concentrations of K, Mg, Mn, Na, P, Cu and Zn were usually low in plants available to, and consumed by, deer in the study area. In addition, Cu concentration was marginally deficient when compared with the published requirements for other subspecies of red deer. The cafeteria study showed that free-ranging deer had a strong preference for sodium compounds and zinc sulfate, a much weaker attraction to calcium iodate, and no intake in calcium phosphates, Mg and Fe. Consumption of supplemented minerals by deer was maximum in spring and summer and moderate during autumn and winter.

Rather than increasing intake of minerals in response to their content in plants, deer may be responding to increased metabolic requirements during antler growth, late gestation and early lactation. Supplementation of mineral compounds is recommended, particularly in the spring–summer period, when the physiological activity is high.


Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank Carlos Cano for providing antlers of free-ranging males from the regional government game state ‘Zona de caza controlada Las Dehesas’ in Albacete. This study was supported by projects PAC06-01304298 (JCCM), MCYT (PET2006_0263), PBI 05-040 (JCCM), FEDER-MCEI project (CGL2008-0749/BOS) and MICINN (PTQ-08-1-06587). Handling procedures and sampling frequency were designed to reduce stress and health risks for subjects, according to European and Spanish law, and current guidelines for ethical use of animals in research (ASAB 2006).


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