Age and Sex Differences of White-Tailed Deer Diet Composition, Quality, and Calcium

Abstract

We examined differences between age groups (fawns, ad) and sexes in diet composition, quality (crude protein and fiber content), and calcium content in white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in Tennessee, 1983-86. We used a factorial design with body mass as a covariate to determine that diet composition varied between sexes in October and between age groups in January. Females consumed more acorns than males did in October, but males compensated by eating more agricultural crops. Diet quality varied between the sexes in October but was not consistent among years. For most time periods, diet composition, quality, and calcium content varied among years. Diets of fawns and adults do not agree with predictions based on body mass, and male and female diets do not follow patterns reported for deer of the George Reserve, Michigan