Can year-round feeding result in not only bigger antlers, but in a bigger, healthier fawn crop?
YES. Supplemental feeding fills in the gap when Mother Nature has a less-than-optimal year. Research has shown that does on poor nutrition in winter and spring lost up to 92% of the fawns born. Does on poor winter and good spring nutrition lost about 35% of the fawns. However, less than 5% of the fawns born to does on good nutrition in winter and spring died, and the surviving fawns weighed nearly twice as much as fawns born to does on poor nutrition. Good nutrition can result in higher birth weights and stronger fawns that have a much better chance of survival. Q: Why is protein so important to antler growth? A: Because the growing velvet antler is about 85% protein, so in this case the old adage “you are what you eat” really holds true! Not enough high-quality dietary protein results in not enough antler to make the record books. Q: If the velvet antler is 85% protein, why are minerals so important to antler quality? A: Antlers reach a stage where they stop growing and their protein
