Grazing patterns of sambar deer (Cervus unicolor) and red deer (Cervus elaphus) in captivity

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Abstract Grazing behaviour was recorded in sambar deer and red deer for 24-h continuous periods, at 2-monthly intervals, over 12 months from March 1990 to March 1991. Scan-sampling was used, with observations made every 12 min. Both groups of deer grazed separate but adjoining areas of the same pasture for the duration of the study. Sambar deer grazed most actively during the night (0100–0500 h), late afternoon, and evening (1700–2100 h), whereas red deer grazed most intensely during early morning (0500–0700 h), afternoon, and early evening (1500–2000 h). This species difference in grazing pattern was not altered by season or month. Total grazing time was similar for sambar and red deer (9.1 versus 9.4 h/24 h), but sambar deer spent more time grazing during the night (6.2 versus 4.9 h/24 h; P < 0.01) and less time grazing during the day (2.9 versus 4.5 h/24 h; P < 0.01) than red deer. The ratio night grazing:daytime grazing was much greater for sambar deer (2.3:1.0) than for red deer (1.1:1.0; P < 0.001)....