DIETARY PREFERENCES OF SAMBAR (CERVUS UNICOLOR) AND RED DEER (CERVUS-ELAPHUS) OFFERED BROWSE, FORAGE LEGUME AND GRASS SPECIES

Grazing sambar and red deer in New Zealand were offered a free choice of seven different plant species (forage legumes, browse and grasses) in 1992 and 1993 and dietary preference rankings were determined. Nutr itive value of plants on offer and diet selected, plant height, plant species purity and stem diameter selected (browse only) were also dete rmined. Total nitrogen (N) and organic matter digestibility (OMD) were highest for red clover, lowest for grasses and intermediate for brows e species (willow, poplar and lupin). Top dietary preference ranking w as willow for sambar and red clover for red deer in both years, with Y orkshire fog and prairie grass being lowly preference ranked with both deer species. Sambar selected willow stems up to 38 mm in diameter an d poplar stems up to 54 mm in diameter. When the plants were grouped i nto browse, grass and forage legume categories, both deer species show ed a similar preference ranking for grasses. Relative to grasses, samb ar showed a strong preference for browse and a low preference for fora ge legumes, whilst red deer showed a strong preference for forage legu mes of high nutritive value and a very low preference for browse. It w as calculated that sambar selected a total diet higher in condensed ta nnins and lignin but lower in nitrogen than that selected by red deer, with similar values for total fibre and OMD. Differences in dietary p reference between the two deer species may be linked with the greater ability of sambar deer to neutralize some plant secondary compounds an d their more efficient rumination pattern compared with red deer. Both sambar and red deer can be classified as intermediate feeders, having a similar preference for grasses, but differing preferences for forag e legumes and browse.