White-tailed Deer — Feed Requirements Guide
White-tailed deer are the most widely managed cervid in North America, found on deer farms, wildlife ranches, and managed hunting properties. At 200 lbs, a whitetail deer consumes approximately 5 lbs of dry matter daily, primarily from browse, forbs, and seasonal mast crops. Deer are selective concentrate feeders with a relatively small rumen, preferring high-quality, easily digestible plant parts over coarse forages. This feeding strategy means that deer nutrition cannot simply be scaled down from cattle nutrition but requires species-specific formulation. Commercial deer pellets provide balanced nutrition for managed herds and supplemental feeding programs. White-tailed deer exhibit pronounced seasonal metabolic cycles, voluntarily reducing feed intake by 20-30% in winter even when food is abundant. This photoperiod-driven metabolic slowdown must be understood when designing feeding programs, as forcing high winter intake can cause digestive problems. Proper nutrition is particularly important for buck antler development, doe reproductive success, and fawn survival rates.
White-tailed Deer Nutritional Requirements by Life Stage
The table below shows how dry matter intake, protein requirements, and feed costs change across the 4 life stages of white-tailed deer production. Life stage adjustments account for the dramatically different energy and protein demands of lactation, growth, gestation, and maintenance. Click any life stage for a dedicated page with detailed feeding recommendations and management tips.
| Life Stage | DMI Adj. | Daily DMI | Protein % | Daily Protein | Monthly Cost* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Doe | 1x | 5.0 lbs | 12% | 0.6 lbs | $12.78 |
| Lactating Doe | 1.3x | 6.5 lbs | 16.8% | 1.1 lbs | $16.62 |
| Growing Fawn | 1.3x | 6.5 lbs | 18% | 1.2 lbs | $16.62 |
| Buck (Antler Growth) | 1.2x | 6.0 lbs | 15.6% | 0.9 lbs | $15.34 |
*Monthly cost estimated using grass hay at $150/ton. Actual costs vary by feed type and region.
Recommended Feeds for White-tailed Deer
The following feeds meet both the minimum crude protein and TDN requirements for white-tailed deer at maintenance level (12% protein, 60% TDN) when fed as the sole feed source. In practice, most feeding programs combine multiple feed ingredients to optimize cost and nutritional balance.
| Feed | Protein | TDN | As-Fed/Day | Cost/Ton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Haylage (Baleage) | 14% | 60% | 11.1 lbs | $80 |
| Oats | 12% | 70% | 5.6 lbs | $210 |
| Barley | 13% | 84% | 5.7 lbs | $230 |
| Soybean Meal | 44% | 84% | 5.6 lbs | $450 |
| Cottonseed Meal | 41% | 75% | 5.5 lbs | $380 |
| Distillers Grains (Dried) | 27% | 86% | 5.6 lbs | $200 |
| Wheat Bran | 16% | 67% | 5.6 lbs | $180 |
| Rice Bran | 13% | 65% | 5.5 lbs | $200 |
| Pasture Grass (Fresh) | 12% | 62% | 20.0 lbs | $0 |
| Corn Gluten Feed | 21% | 80% | 5.7 lbs | $200 |
| Canola Meal | 36% | 74% | 5.6 lbs | $350 |
| Layer Pellets | 16% | 70% | 5.6 lbs | $400 |
| Broiler Starter | 22% | 78% | 5.6 lbs | $450 |
| Horse Sweet Feed | 12% | 72% | 5.7 lbs | $350 |
| Brewers Grains (Wet) | 26% | 66% | 20.8 lbs | $60 |
Feeds Requiring Supplementation
These feeds meet either the protein or TDN requirement but not both, and would need to be combined with other feeds in a balanced ration. The table indicates which nutritional requirement is met and which needs supplementation.
| Feed | Protein | TDN | Protein OK? | TDN OK? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alfalfa Hay | 18% | 58% | Yes | No |
| Corn Silage | 8% | 70% | No | Yes |
| Whole Corn | 9% | 88% | No | Yes |
| Cracked Corn | 9% | 88% | No | Yes |
| Beet Pulp | 9% | 74% | No | Yes |
| Molasses | 5% | 72% | No | Yes |
| Fat Supplement (Bypass Fat) | 0% | 180% | No | Yes |
| Urea (Feed Grade) | 281% | 0% | Yes | No |
| Alfalfa Hay Cubes | 17% | 56% | Yes | No |
Feeding White-tailed Deer at Different Body Weights
Body weight directly determines dry matter intake. The table below shows how daily feed requirements change across a range of body weights for white-tailed deer at maintenance level. Use the calculator for custom weights, life stages, and herd sizes.
| Body Weight | Daily DMI | Daily Protein | Monthly Feed | Annual Feed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 120 lbs | 3.0 lbs | 0.4 lbs | 90 lbs | 0.55 tons |
| 160 lbs | 4.0 lbs | 0.5 lbs | 120 lbs | 0.73 tons |
| 200 lbs | 5.0 lbs | 0.6 lbs | 150 lbs | 0.91 tons |
| 240 lbs | 6.0 lbs | 0.7 lbs | 180 lbs | 1.10 tons |
| 300 lbs | 7.5 lbs | 0.9 lbs | 225 lbs | 1.37 tons |
Herd Size Feed Budgets for White-tailed Deer
Planning feed purchases and storage requires estimating total feed needs for your herd over time. The table below shows monthly and annual feed requirements and costs for various herd sizes of white-tailed deer at maintenance level using grass hay at $150/ton.
| Head Count | Daily DMI Total | Monthly Feed | Annual Feed | Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 25.0 lbs | 0.38 tons | 4.56 tons | $777.70 |
| 10 | 50.0 lbs | 0.75 tons | 9.13 tons | $1,555.40 |
| 25 | 125.0 lbs | 1.88 tons | 22.81 tons | $3,888.49 |
| 50 | 250.0 lbs | 3.75 tons | 45.63 tons | $7,776.99 |
| 100 | 500.0 lbs | 7.50 tons | 91.25 tons | $15,553.98 |
| 200 | 1,000.0 lbs | 15.00 tons | 182.50 tons | $31,107.95 |
Other Animals
Browse feed requirement guides for other livestock species.