Abstract

Live weight gain of red deer within the first 3 to 4 months of their life plays a major part in determining the efficiency of venison production systems. Over this period young deer are largely dependant on their dam for nutrition. It is often difficult to achieve growth rates greater than 400 g/d in New Zealand because red deer lactation coincides with deteriorating pasture quality. However, calf growth rates of up to 700 g/day have been achieved over late lactation when

IC, Scott, JA Archer, GW Asher, DR Stevens, JF Ward, RP Littlejohn, and JE Lach

Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production, Volume 68, Brisbane, Australia, 45-46, 2008