Nutrition of antler growth in deer

Abstract

Stags are susceptible to the effects of nutrition at several stages during their lives and during the antler cycle. Nutrition during the in utero, post-natal (suckling) and yearling stages influences the size of spike antlers, and, generally, there is a close relationship between bodyweight and antler weight in stags aged up to 5 years. While antler size is not greatly affected by nutrition during the growth of immature (velvet) antler, it is influenced by body size and condition at casting, i.e. at the beginning of new antler growth. Antler growth appears to have a high priority for nutrients, especially energy, protein and calcium. Antler growth in adult stags is little affected by diet protein concentrations over 7%, but supplements of protected protein or methionine may improve antler growth. Substantial amounts of calcium and phosphorus are sequestered in antlers as they become mineralised, and calcium is withdrawn from the skeleton in support of this. Feeding programs to obtain good antler growth involve recognising the periods when juvenile stags are susceptible to under-nutrition, and providing sufficient nutrients to re-establish adequate body condition in adult stags between the end of the rut and antler casting.