Technical Note: An evaluation of 4 clovers and Italian ryegrass for white-tailed deer

Abstract

We evaluated winter weight gain of captive male white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) that grazed pastures of berseem (Trifolium alexandrinium L.), white (T. repens L.), crimson (T. incarnatum L.), or subterranean (T. subterraneum L.) clover their first winter and pastures of berseem, white, or crimson clover or Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) their second winter. Weight gains the first winter (14.7 +/- 0.7kg) did not differ (P>0.10) among the clovers. Bucks that grazed berseem, white, or crimson clover the second winter gained 3.0 +/- 0.5 kg, while bucks that grazed Italian ryegrass gained 0.9 +/- 0.9 kg.