Development of feeding selectivity and consistency in food choice over 5 years in fallow deer

Abstract

In order to better understand the development and maintenance of feeding selectivity, several feeding experiments were performed with fallow deer (Dama dama L.). In experiments performed when the fawns were between ten and 27 days old, it was found that all fawns showed preferences for sucrose but aversions towards tannic acid and ascorbic acid. However, differences in selectivity towards tannic acid were present already before the fawns became functional ruminants and these individual differences lasted 5 years. Moreover, individuals that ingested overall less tannic acid, searched more thoroughly between food sources. When the foraging behaviour was compared with age (11-41 days old and 65-97 days old), it was found that the time a fawn spent eating, increased with age, and the time spent on exploration, smelling and tasting plants decreased with age. Furthermore, the fawns increased their intake of grass and herbs, while the intake of soil and dead plant material decreased with age.