PORTEIN REQUIREMENT OF WHITE-TAILED DEER FAWNS

Forty-five white-tailed deer fawns (Odocoileus virginianus), 3 to 5 months old, were weaned and adjusted to a complete pelleted diet. They were then assigned at random to 1 of 3 dietary protein levels, from sex and weight outcome groups, for a period of 98 days. Female fawns receiving 12.7% crude protein gained significantly (P< 0.05) faster than those receiving 7.8% crude protein, and did not differ from those receiving 20.2% crude protein. Male fawns receiving 20.2% crude protein gained significantly (P< 0.01) faster than those receiving either 12.7 or 7.8%. Males gained at the same rate as females on the two lower levels of protein, but significantly (P, 0.01) faster on the highest level. Feed efficiency (gain/feed) was slightly faster (P< 0.05) for both sexes when receiving 20.2% crude protein as compared to 7.8%. Males were slightly more efficient (P< 0.05) than females at all dietary protein levels. Feed consumption tended to increase with increasing dietary protein concentration and these differences approached significance (P<0.09). Serum protein concentration was higher (P< 0.04) for both sexes receiving 20.2% crude protein than for those receiving lower levels. No treatment of sex differences were noted for the electrophoretic fractions of serum protein or for hemoglobin or hematocrit.