OK - Who's the expert on...

[Texan_Til_I_Die]

...supplemental deer feed? I've read a couple of articles recently that mentioned feeding "breeder" protein rather than the standard deer pellets. Can anyone enlighten me on what breeder protein is and what are the benefits from feeding it?

[dogdoc]

breeder protein??? I've heard of doe and breeder blend which I just think is a food with optimum protein/calcium for breeding and lactating does?

[MarylandQDMA]

on the QDMA web forum there is a guy with a user name of anderson. if I remember corectly he studys deer nutritional needs he should be able to supply you the proper info. let us know what you come up with.
Frank

[VermontHunter]

This is what I could dig up so far on this topic...

Buckeye 17% Doe & Breeder Ration 44250
TYPE OF FEED: complete
FORM OF FEED: 1/8" or mini pellets
PACKAGING: 50 lb paper bags
SPECIES: whitetail deer
AGES: adult does, maintenance for bucks


FEATURES:


Complete pelleted 17% protein diet with all the necessary ingredients for whitetail deer (concentrate selectors) and the American Elk (intermediate selectors)
Contains sufficient quality fiber to maintain rumen or gut function
Formulated for the adult doe or cow but will maintain bucks or bulls
For optimum growth in fawns and for optimum antler development feed Buckeye 21% Buck and Fawn Pellets: do not feed shelled corn, horse or cattle feed to deer (see back page for information)
GUARANTEED ANALYSIS:
Crude Protein, Minimum 17.00%
Crude Fat, Minimum 2.00%
Crude Fiber, Maximum 15.00%
Calcium (Ca), Minimum 0.60%
Calcium (Ca), Maximum 1.10%
Phosphorus (P), Minimum .60%
Salt (NaCl), Minimum .30%
Salt (NaCl), Maximum .80%
Vitamin A, Minimum 5,000 IU/lb.
Vitamin D, Minimum 1200 IU/lb.
Vitamin E, Minimum 70 IU/lb.


INGREDIENTS: Grain Products, Roughage Products, Plant Protein Products, Processed Grain By-Products, Forage Products, Calcium Phosphate, Calcium Carbonate, Salt, Potassium Chloride, Potassium Sulfate, Magnesium Sulfate, Magnesium Oxide, Manganous Oxide, Ferrous Carbonate, Copper Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Cobalt Carbonate, Ethylenediamine Dihydriodide, Sodium Selenite, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin D-3 Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Niacin Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin B-12 Supplement, Choline Chloride.

FEEDING DIRECTIONS: Feed Buckeye 17% Deer Ration (Doe & Breeder Pellets) to does year round and to bucks during the breeding season when they are with the does. Feed free choice at the rate of approximately 1.7% to 3.5% of body weight in a protected feeder. Hay, pasture, or browse are not a nutritional requirement when feeding Buckeye 17% Deer Ration (Doe & Breeder Pellets) which contain sufficient quality fiber, but it will reduce the stress from boredom. Provide free access to clean, fresh water at all times as well as Buckeye T.M. Salt with Selenium. Do not feed this product if the feed has become moldy or out of condition. Please read the following paragraph for important information.

VERY IMPORTANT: In the winter months when daylight hours are short, deer will naturally reduce their consumption as their metabolism rate slows. This is their normal method of dealing with the reduced feed supply and their winter environment. The deer will appear unthrifty with their winter haircoat and their declining body weight as they partially live off their body fat reserves they build up during the spring and summer months when food is plentiful. Food consumption will decline to 1.3% - 1.5% of body weight. This is normal and is not that they are sick or that they do not like the Buckeye 17% Deer Ration. As spring approached and the days become longer, body metabolism and feed consumption will increase rapidly. Buckeye 17% Deer Ration is formulated to allow for these lower intakes with special high quality mineral and vitamins, plus adequate fiber to help maintain the rumen function. We do not recommend feeding shelled corn, horse feed, dairy feed, or other high energy feed because it may cause the deer to go into acidosis and become sick. More pet deer and deer close to urban areas are killed by well intentioned individuals feeding unbalanced diets than die from starvation.


I'll keep digging and see what other benifits it may have to offer... But for now I hope this helps a little bit..

[wtnhunt]

Sounds like a great product for those areas where the deer have to be fed through the winters, wonder how expensive it is.

[VermontHunter]

wtnhunt ,, this stuff must be pretty pricey,, I can't seem to find pricing list anywhere on the web for it.....every website I went to says you need to call for pricing....

Think I'll stick with the Hamman Farms Seed anyhow,, atleast if I have some questions I'll know I'll get some answers.....

[Thayer]

Hey martinbowhunter9, good to see you getting the degree in wildlife management! I have a question...are you saying that sodium and calcium should not be given to deer, like in mineral licks. Almost all licks are primarily those ingredients. The sodium is used for the digestive system and calcium in proper amounts is good for the whole body and bone structure...just unsure what you are saying about the supplements.

[dogdoc]

mbh9---I also would like to know why you think mineral supplementation should not be used.

[wtnhunt]

[ QUOTE ]
Deer perspire just like we do.

[/ QUOTE ]

I am pretty sure I read somewhere in a book by a well known deer authority that deer do not perspire, but similarly to a dog will instead pant.

[VermontHunter]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Deer perspire just like we do.

[/ QUOTE ]

I am pretty sure I read somewhere in a book by a well known deer authority that deer do not perspire, but similarly to a dog will instead pant.

[/ QUOTE ]

I am almost 99.9% sure you are right....Deer don't have sweat glands so the pant like a dog would to relief the heat....

Todd will enlighten us on this fact Im sure....

[jdickey]

Being in sort of the "middle" of a number of game ranches in our area, I have found that most if not all of those ranches utilize "supplemental" feeding, food plots, and natural forage for their deer. In other words, they are essentially covering all their bases when it comes to deer feeding.

One thing that they do, is a constant year round supplemental feeding program with protein supplements such as Record Rack(Nutrena) or Antler Max (Purina). I have used AntlerMax for several years, but recently at the suggestion of Keith Warren, I have been using Record Rack. It has several mixtures available, so that you may adjust your feeding program during the year and to accomodate the various stages of nutrient requirements.

RECORD RACK

Among their selections are two different mixtures during the "breeding seasons". One offers a higher protein level than the other.

[Texan_Til_I_Die]

[ QUOTE ]
Save the dough and spend it on improving your habitat. be good- dd doe (sorry, inside joke)

[/ QUOTE ]

Well, I've got a 300 acre, a 200 acre, and a 100 acre wheat field going. Do those count as a "food plots"?

Like JD said, we're just covering all of the bases with the supplements. Plus, I'm hunting right on the edge of the desert, so droughts are all too common. During a hard drought, say one that lasts 4 or 5 years, food plots won't grow. During those times, supplemental feeding is about our only recourse.