Water consumption by rusa deer (Cervus timorensis) stags as influenced by different types of food

Abstract

AbstractDuring winter in southern Queensland, eight rusa deer stags aged 4 years were given ad libitum lucerne (Medicago sativa) hay and confined in individual metabolism pens for 26 days. Stags ate 2·04 kg dry matter (DM) per day and drank 6·4 kg water per day, while the drinking water: food DM ratio was 3·3 l/kg. In experiment 2, seven rusa stags were given ad libitum lucerne hay or oaten (Avena spp.) hay with or without barley grain supplementation (200 g/day) for 56 days (four periods). This experiment was conducted from 26 July to 19 September 2001, when the stags were exhibiting the behaviour characteristic of the rut. Rusa stags ate 1·19 and 1·17 kg DM per day of lucerne and oaten hay respectively. Rusa stags given oaten hay drank slightly more water than those that received lucerne hay (5·34 and 4·47 kg/day, respectively). The drinking water: food DM ratios were 3·81 and 4·67 kg/kg for lucerne and oaten hay, respectively. Barley grain supplementation (200 g/day) had no influence on total food or water intakes of the rusa stags.