The objectives of this study were to determine the impact of feeding supplemental energy and protein on the growth performance and on the carcass characteristics of weaned red deer stags. Forty-eight weaned stags were divided into 8 groups and randomly allocated to four dietary treatments. Two levels of energy (E) and protein (P), low (L) or high (H) were obtained by the addition of various amounts of oats and soybean meal (SBM). This trial was divided into 2 phases: For the first 32 weeks (Phase I), diets LE/LP and HE/LP contained 0.5 and 1.0 kg/deer respectively of oats; diet LE/HP consisted of 0.15 kg of oats and 0.30 kg of SBM, and diet HE/HP, of 0.5 kg of oats and 0.35 kg of SBM. In Phase II, the level of supplementation was increased while keeping a constant relationship with the body weight of the deer. The animals were group fed, and offered mixed hay ad libitum. The animals were weighed every two weeks, over 48 weeks and slaughtered at 90.5 to 100.6 kg body weight. Increasing the energy level in the supplement resulted in a substitution effect of grain for forage. As a result, there was no difference in total energy consumption. For this reason, no difference was observed (P > 0.05) between treatments for values of ADG or final weight. Feeding supplemental protein over 368 g/deer/d didn't improve ADG or liveweight (P > 0.05). There were no treatment differences (P > 0.05) in estimates of carcass yield, kidney fat, or tissue depth (GR). Results indicate that concentrate feeding does not stimulate overall growth rate.

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