Deer are ruminant animals with antlers and hooves belonging to the family Cervidae or one of the several animals from the related families of the order Artiodactyla. These animals look a lot like the antelopes but differ in their ability to shed and regrow new antlers every year.

They are one of the most important games kept by many game-keepers which has prompted the continuous improvement of their management, especially through the internet with several suggestions on equipment to ensure their effective management is given. One of the prominent contributors to this development is Feed That Game, which breaks down everything you need to know about deer management ranging from feeding to the lifestyle of the animals.

Species Of Deer

There are several opinions regarding the number of species of deer around the globe but the fact is that there are over forty (40) species of these ruminant animals with the common species being the red deer, sika deer, white-tailed deer, the reindeer, the elk, and the pudu. Other species of deer include the roe deer, moose, mule deer, Chinese water deer that does not shed its antlers, and so on. This large distribution of their species has also earned them the title of the second most diverse family of the Artiodactyla after the bovids. Generally, their body characteristics are made up of long and powerful legs, a petite tail, and long ears with divergent skin colour typically varying between red and brown.

Ability

Deer are known to be good at swimming and they are great at jumping. Since they are ruminant animals, they have to chew their cuds like the cows and goats though there is a little difference between their choice of feeds. They also have good night vision due to the presence of tapetum lucidum and a gland in their body that produces pheromone, a hormone responsible for marking out the home range.

The antlers are also believed to be a property of the male deer (bucks) as the female deer (does) develop antlers less often. This piece of bone connections on their heads is used for combat and sexual selection. The type of antlers they possess is also determined by the social position of the deer and hence, deer with higher social statuses tend to have a heavier and greater delay in shedding their antlers. Antlers can also affect the reproductive ability of a male deer and its resistant to disease-causing organisms known as pathogens.

Feeding

Deer are picky in the selection of feeds and thus, called browsers. They feed primarily on foliage, shrubs, and trees as well as on fungi and lichens during the unfavourable climate. They require high nutritional feeds especially those rich in minerals like phosphate and calcium to support antlers growth. Deer are predominantly herbivorous although some deer are observed to be feeding on flesh.

So, we have been able to quickly study a little about deer. They are special species of animals that live in the wild and mostly get eaten by larger animals like lions. Some of the species have gone into extinction and efforts are being made to preserve the existing ones. It is always an honour to kill a red deer, especially in Germany. This, however, poses a threat to the existence of these creatures.