Influence of Plane of Nutrition on Seasonal Changes in Food Intake and Reproduction in Grazing Red Deer

The influence of herbage availability and endogenous appetite changes on food intake and the timing of breeding were investigated in lactating, nonlactating and melatonin-treated red deer hinds (Cervus elaphus) on long and short sward pastures. On the high-sward pasture, intake of melatonin-treated hinds was significantly lower than controls. Lactation and level of food intake did not affect the time of onset of estrous cycles, but on a restricting low-sward pasture fewer lactating animals cycled. Differences in appetite were expressed through time spent grazing and diet selection.