
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Puttoo, M. 
A1  - Dryden, G. M. 
A1  - McCosker, J. E. 
T1  - Performance of weaned rusa (<emph type="2">Cervus timorensis</emph>) deer given concentrates of varying protein content with sorghum hay
JF  - Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture
JO  - Aust. J. Exp. Agric.
Y1  - 1998
VL  - 38
IS  - 1
SP  - 33
EP  - 39
KW  - 
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1071/EA97045 
N2  - Summary. In 2, 18-week experiments, rusa deer (Cervus timorensis) initially weighing 22 kg, were given sorghum hay supplemented with concentrates containing nominally 12, 17 or 20% protein. Hay was given ad libitum and the concentrates were offered at 2.8% (experiment 1) or 2.5% (experiment 2) of liveweight daily. Concentrate contents in the diets as selected averaged 88 and 74% (air-dry basis) in the final 3 weeks of experiments 1 and 2. In experiment 1, males grew faster than females (163 v. 125 g/day; P = 0.0001), and deer given the 20% protein concentrate grew significantly (P&#60;0.05) faster than the remainder. Stags given the 20% protein concentrate in experiment 2 grew more quickly (161 g/day), and had larger necks, greater body length and greater antler growth. The optimum diet protein content for growth in both male and female weaners may be 15% (dry matter basis), but higher protein contents may give earlier pedicle initiation and faster antler growth in males. 
ER  -

