The Effect of Feeding Whole-crop Barley Silage on Feed Intake, Body Weight, Velvet Antler Yields and Economic Efficiency in Growing Sika Deer
This study was conducted to determine the effect of dietary whole-crop barley silage on average daily feed intake, average daily weight gain, velvet antler yield and economic efficacy in sika deer during growth. A total of 24 sika deer (initially 56.3 kg BW) of 24 months age were allotted in arrangement in a completely randomized design. The three treatments were: T1(hay diet), T2(whole-crop barley silage), and T3(50% hay+50% whole-crop barley silage). Concentrate feed were 1.5% feeding of body weight with all groups. Average daily weight gain of T3 was higher than those of others for the entire experimental period. Average daily feed intake of sika deer in decreasing order was as follows; T1>T3>T2. The velvet antler yield was highest in T3 group (315±112 g) compared with T1 (276±59 g) and T2 (283±108 g). However, there was no significant difference in average daily feed intake, average daily weight gain, velvet antler yield(p>0.05). In economic efficacy, T3 was about 15-29% higher than that of T1 and T2. In conclusion, the mixed feeding of 50% hay and 50% whole-crop barley silage was more effective in average daily feed intake, average daily weight gain, velvet antler yield and economic efficacy in sika deer