Phosphorus Requirements of Weaned White-Tailed Deer Fawns

Abstract

Two experiments, involving 60 fawns of both sexes, were conducted to investigate the quan- titative dietary requirements of phosphorus for growing white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus). Doe fawns were fed their respective diets from late September or early October to late January or mid- March. Buck fawns received their respective diets from late September or early October to mid-March or mid-July. Dietary calcium concentration was held constant at 0.46 to 0.51 percent. Dietary phos- phorus concentrations were 0.28, 0.37, and 0.45 percent in Experiment 1 and 0.26, 0.35, and 0.44 per- cent in Experiment 2. Measurements were made of weight gain; pes length; rib specific gravity; rib ash; percent calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium in the rib ash; rib strength characteristics; rib his- topathology; serum alkaline phosphatase activity; serum calcium, inorganic phosphorus, and magnesium concentration; antler weight, specific gravity, and percent ash; and percent calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium in the antler ash. Certain sex differences were apparent, but none of these criteria was significantly affected by dietary phosphorus level. It was concluded that, with dietary calcium levels of 0.46 to 0.51 percent, weaned white-tailed deer fawns do not require more than 0.26 percent phosphorus (0.28 percent on a dry basis).