Authors : E. Lopez-Coba , C.A. Sandoval-Castro and R.C. Montes-Perez
Abstract: Intake and preference of white tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus yucatanensis) towards four forage trees was assessed via cafeteria and intake trials. Four deer males (43±1.6 kg LW) and four tree fodders Brosimun alicastrum, Leucaena leucocephala, Bursera simaruba and Guazuma ulmifolia were used. B. alicastrum was the most preferred tree (p<0.0001) followed by L. leucocephala, G.ulmifolia and B. simaruba which were eaten in similar amounts. Digestibility was 60 and 61% for G. ulmifolia and B. alicastrum and 80 and 81% for B. simaruba and L. leucocephala. Short term preference of tree fodders was associated with their lignin content (p<0.05). It was concluded that white tailed deer tree fodder preference seems to be associated to fibrous material content and not with tannins. Brosimun alicastrum had the highest intake and DDM intake of the four forages evaluated.
E. Lopez-Coba , C.A. Sandoval-Castro and R.C. Montes-Perez , 2007. Intake and Digestibility of Tree Fodders by White Tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus yucatanensis). Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances, 6: 39-41.