Ca, Mg, and P in the Annual Diet of Deer in South-Central Indiana

Abstract

The nutritional importance of the macroelements calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus for the plant and animal kingdoms is well documented. Although these elements are among the most commonly assayed in evaluating forages eaten by wild and domestic herbivores, only a few studies have sampled vegetation monthly through 1 or more years to assess changes that might occur in mineral contents. We have analyzed the important forage components in the annual diet of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in south-central Indiana for Ca, Mg, and P to determine if temporal changes occur in dietary levels of these nutrients.