Examining the impacts of red deer hind body condition score and pasture forage mass on calf weaning weight

The effect of pre-calving hind body condition and the interaction with pasture allowance during lactation on calf growth and intake to weaning were investigated. Two hundred and forty red deer hinds (Cervus elaphus scoticus x hippelaphus) of average body condition score (BCS) 3.5 were subjected to either ad libitum or restricted feeding for the 4 weeks prior to the expected start of calving (31st October) to create hinds of low (2.5) or high (3.5) BCS. These hinds were then grazed continuously on either low (<1200 kg DM/ha) or high (>2400 kg DM/ha) pasture covers during lactation (29th October – 25th March). In a 2 x 2 cross-over design liveweight, live weight gain and pasture intake were measured in both hinds and calves. Low hind body condition score (BCS 2.5) at the onset of lactation resulted in low calf weaning weight (46.9 kg) when pasture cover was low, but not when pasture cover was high (57.3 kg). High BCS (3.5) in hinds resulted in intermediate calf weaning weight when on low pasture cover (51.2 kg) and high calf weaning weight when pasture cover was high (56.6 kg). Both BCS and pasture cover influenced calculated total milk production.