Which primary food source is king during the Spring Protein Rush due to high nutritional return?
Answer
Forbs
Forbs, which are herbaceous, broad-leaved plants often called 'weeds,' are critical during the spring and early summer because the new, succulent growth emerging offers extremely high levels of protein, easily digestible carbohydrates, and necessary minerals like phosphorus. This period is known as the protein rush because deer intensely focus on these readily available resources needed for processes like antler mineralization in bucks and rapid fawn development in does. In areas with high soil quality, the protein content in these spring forbs can surpass 20%.
Related Questions
What physiological classification describes the white-tailed deer's survival strategy based on food selection?Which primary food source is king during the Spring Protein Rush due to high nutritional return?What constitutes the backbone of the white-tailed deer's diet during the lean months of winter?What highly sought-after food source dictates the deer diet in the Fall to build necessary fat reserves?Which plant category is generally the least desirable for a concentrate selector like the deer?What key anatomical features enable a deer to delicately pick out specific plant parts?What approximate percentage of their body weight must deer consume daily from spring through fall to maintain health?What is the primary physiological risk of feeding deer high-starch corn during winter stress?How does acidic or phosphorus-deficient local soil structure impact the nutritional quality of spring forbs?What dietary shift occurs as summer progresses because forbs begin increasing in lignin content?