Study of domestic grass-legume mixture hay application on Formosan sam bar deer velvet antler production.

The study aims to evaluate the effect of replacing imported Bermuda hay with domestic grass-legume mixture forage on the velvet antler production period of Formosan sambar deer. Ten male Formosan sambar deer were randomly divided into two groups according to the yield of velvet antler, age, and body condition score. Deer were fed with grass-legume mixture hay or Bermuda hay ad libitum, respectively. The concentrate was offered equally to forage dry matter intake. Velvet antler was weighed while harvesting. The results showed that the dry matter intake of the grass-legume mixture hay group wad significantly higher (Pᐸ0.05) than thet of the Bermuda hay group. Although there was no signicantl difference in the yield of velvet antler and body condition score, a trend of higher performance was found in the grass-legume mixture hay group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]