THE LLC
Well-Known Member
I’ve tried to find that stuff for years with NO luck.
Antler growth protein feed
- Thread starter Deer Stuffer
- Start date
I’ve tried to find that stuff for years with NO luck.
Mennoniteman
Well-Known Member
Congrats on the new job. I hope your pay situation improves to the point where you can start feeding again.
Thanks. I opened my own business and we are doing great, so protein may be back on the menu in a year or two.
Cedar Ridge
Active Member
I’ve tried the pvc pipe, and it stymied them for a while, but they eventually started climbing them too. I tried Shark Teeth, bloodied their feet, but a coon is relentless. Tried the coon traps, caught one or two and they stopped even taking the cups off the top. I guess the protein was easier to get to, or my coons are smarter than y’all’s coons.
I slather the legs of my Moultrie 200 lb feeders with Vaseline and haven’t had a coon or squirrel yet that can climb them. Just got to be careful not to rub up against them or it’s a mess.
Drycreek
Well-Known Member
I’ve used several granular mixes in the past, but I just remembered that the 30-06 mineral from Whitetail Institute was the one that deer liked the best. I used some other brand once that was supposed to be formulated to be exactly what they needed and they never touched it. It might have been, but if the deer don’t use it that makes it worthless. As my place is small and low fenced and my deer lease the same, I just went with a block to get velvet pics and maybe a fawn inventory. Like Rusty, I’ve never seen any study that provides evidence that it helps, but I can’t see how it could hurt.
swat1018
Well-Known Member
What name do they market this product under? I've been looking also, and heard they even had a cattle block size product of the same material.
catscratch
Well-Known Member
nf-wf-04-02.pdf
jbird, if you will scroll down to the bottom of page 21 you'll find a chart. It gives nutritional requirements of whitetails based on the month of the year, the age of the deer, and the sex of the deer. The nutritional breakdown is percent protein, percent calcium, percent phosphorus, and Total Digestible Nutrients (TDN). This might not be the most accurate thing ever but I think it's a good starting point. Of course Baker and some of the other guys on here have it figured out really well, I just like this resource because I don't have it all stuck in my head like they do.
Example: From January to March bucks need 7-10% protein, 51% TDN, .35% Ca, and .4% P
The same buck from April to August needs 16% protein, 55% TDN, 1.50% Ca, and .7% P
You might be able to use this to help with labels on different supplements and feeds.
j-bird
Well-Known Member
I figured the higher protein levels would be better, but I will have to look at some tags and see if they even list TDN or not. I did notice that the few I looked at listed fat on their tag and I wasn't sure if that is something that is desired or not. Here is what I have access to at my local RK store....I might be able to find some other stuff at other "feed mills". The data I pulled from Record Rack's website.
DocHolladay
Well-Known Member
I like a 16-20% protein, a 8-12% fat, and 10-15% fiber. Then you can find the one with the right amount of vitamins and minerals. We get roughly 13% protein and 8% fat with the record rack blend we do(50/50 sportsman’s choice/golden deer nugget).
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For protein nutritional supplementation of wild deer all the choices here are good except corn and the Golden Nuggets as those two are mainly attractants. Also the Advanced Wildlife Solutions Shawn posted is a good feed.Couple of things to note. In the breeder mix note that protein is 16%. This is considered the ideal minimum for body condition and antler growth. Recognizing this feed is for deer in a pen, and thats all they eat, anything higher in protein can cause rumin problems or simply be excreted . Deer on too hot of protein can exhibit sleigh foot, digestive problems and a host of other health problems. Its ok to feed pellets higher in protein in the wild as deer are complimenting the pellets with native food sources that balance the levels out.
Also note that the breeder ration has higher fiber levels. Again that all the deer eat and high fiber levels are essential . Not so necessary in wild herds as they get plenty of fiber from native forage though high levels don't hurt anything...to a point. Fat is essential and to some degree more is better . The more fat , the more they eat. TDN is extremely high in all quality pellets, yet another reason they are so valuable.
Lastly anything less than 16% does not meet the minimal nutritional needs and becomes more of an attractant than a nutritional supplement.
Look up Redmund Agriculture. They have an array of mineral products. I have used the redmund fine in past but will try medium this year. I also see where they haveblocks and powder that include garlic. to retard ticks. Gonna try some of that also
catscratch
Well-Known Member
Just curious from you guys that know... I'm guessing it would be dangerous to add dry mineral to a feed using a sticking agent (vegetable oil?). Should supplemental mineral always be free choice? What are the dangers of too much mineral consumption?
DocHolladay
Well-Known Member
MOST feeds have the appropriate amount of minerals if they were designed for deer. Of course, we have mineral licks for the deer to use as needed also. I have found that a mineral lick close by a feeder is useless and the deer won’t use it. They will however use a mineral lick that is 100yds on either side of it. They WILL use a mineral lick next to a feeder if the feed has been empty for an extended amount of time. My local feed store has a mineral mix without salt that is good that you could try adding to the feed of you want. I would sprinkle that over the feed and not worry about a binding agent of it was me. It’s cheap enough that if they didn’t like it, it could be used for mineral licks with some trace mineral salt mixed in with it.
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shawn cox
Well-Known Member
I find that interesting. It is fascinating seeing how other people’s herds react to different feed, mineral and food plots. All 13 of my protein feeders has a mineral site beside them and they use them regularly. I have also poured mineral all though it was small amounts on top of some feed a time or two and there was no difference in consumption. My protein has minerals and vitamins added also.
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Drycreek
Well-Known Member
I agree about different deer eating different things. My two main places to hunt are about 20 miles apart. My home place had almost instant acceptance of protein but my lease took about 7 months before they began eating it, and all of them are still not eating. A small sample I know, but what I’ve seen is one or two will “discover” it, then over time more will start using it. Has that been y’all’s experience ?
catscratch
Well-Known Member
The first year I grew pumpkins I couldn't get deer to eat them. I even dumped a pile of corn on one and the pumpkin remained untouched.
The second year I grew pumpkins a doe and her two fawns picked at them some.
The next year and ever since they are hammered by every deer in the area. I love to see a big buck with pumpkin rind hanging out of it's mouth! A truckload doesn't last a week.
I can't pay the deer to eat turnips. I've seen tooth marks on them but they don't eat them. Completely ignored by the deer every time I grow them. They've had many years to adjust to them, they just ain't buying it. I know most of you habitat guys have luck with turnips but my deer won't warm up to them.
So, not protein but evidence of deer being picky about new things or having regional differences in taste.
Drycreek
Well-Known Member
Yeah, I’ve gone the turnip and brassica route about three times and never had a deer touch them. In all fairness, that was on a place that had plenty of wheat and sometimes beans to eat in fall/winter. On a place my son leased there wasn’t much but planted pines and they ate the heck out of PTT. I might should try them on the place we have leased now, it’s probably half plantation pine. Hmmmmm, I have a few small places that I could try that with very little expense so I think I will.
