Deer Nutrition Notes
Attraction vs. Nutraction
By WHITETAIL INSTITUTE STAFF
If you have ever read one of my articles or heard me speak at a seminar, you have probably heard me say that a mineral/vitamin supplement program is often the most overlooked part of most deer-nutrition management programs. Considering the fact that antlers are basically an extension of the skeletal system and, when in hardened form, are comprised of 55 percent mineral, it would seem obvious that a good mineral program would improve antler growth dramatically. At the Whitetail Institute, several studies have been conducted showing not only increased antler growth when using mineral/vitamin supplement program, but also heavier body weights and improved fawn growth. Probably the most conclusive evidence is the literally thousands of customers that have seem dramatic improvements in their deer herd when using a Whitetail Institute mineral/vitamin.
So why then are mineral/vitamin supplements ignored or not even considered. There are probably many reasons, but the main reason stems from the fact that mineral/vitamin supplements are largely misunderstood. In many hunters’ minds, mineral/vitamin supplements and attractants are synonymous. More accurately, when most hunters hear mineral/vitamin supplement, they immediately think of salt. There is little wonder for this confusion due to the fact that there are many products on the market that are so called mineral/vitamin supplements, but in truth, they are little more than glorified salt licks.
An attractant, by definition, is a product designed primarily to attract deer to a specific location. Most attractants are either salt based or sugar based and provide little nutritional benefit to the deer. A true mineral/vitamin supplement on the other hand is designed to provide vital nutrients to the deer herd for improved antler growth, doe lactation, fawn growth and overall herd health. These mineral/vitamin products contain nutrients such as calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, zinc, copper, iron, vitamins A, D and E, as well as many other nutrients. It is these nutrients that are typically lacking in adequate amounts in the natural food sources. But like many things that are good for you, deer are not necessarily attracted to most of these minerals and vitamins. Therefore, a certain amount of “attractant” must be used to get the deer to readily consume the minerals and vitamins.
It is no different than when I was young. My grandmother would put enough melted cheese on the broccoli to get me to eat it. I like to call this attractant and nutrition mix “nutraction.”
Everyone knows that deer like salt and molasses (sugar). Most spring and summer attractants utilize salt to ensure deer consume the product. The primary reason behind the effectiveness of salt to attract deer in the spring and summer is the sodium found in salt. Sodium and potassium must maintain a proper balance in the body, and in the spring and summer, green vegetation supplies potassium but little to no sodium. Therefore the sodium/potassium balance is skewed, and deer search out any sodium source they can find to bring the balance back in line. While deer need sodium for this reason, they do not need it in the quantities supplied by attractants and some mineral/vitamin supplements.
Furthermore, salt does little for antler growth. If you analyze a hardened antler, sodium only comprises .03 percent as opposed to calcium, phosphorus and magnesium which collectively comprise 36 percent. This is why I tell folks that if you are using an attractant or a mineral/vitamin supplement that is mostly salt, do not expect it to help much with antler growth. I do not say this to belittle attractants. If all you want to do is attract deer, attractants are a good choice. However, if you want to attract deer and improve antler growth, don’t expect a mostly salt-based attractant to do the job.
Finally, don’t be confused by products that say they “contain essential minerals and vitamins,” such as those already mentioned. The key is not that they contain them, but rather how much do they contain in relationship to the salt content. As a rule, I consider any product that contains more than 50 percent salt an attractant more than a true mineral/vitamin supplement.
A true mineral/vitamin supplement has five characteristics. First, it must contain all the essential minerals and vitamins such as the ones previously mentioned.
Secondly, they must be present in adequate amounts. Thirdly, they must be in appropriate ratios. Minerals and vitamins have complex interactions between each other, and a certain balance must be maintained. For instance, there must so many parts of zinc to every part of calcium. Furthermore there must be so many parts of vitamin A to every part of vitamin D. Actually, all minerals and vitamins must be in proper ratios to each other or the effectiveness of each is diminished greatly.
Fourth, minerals must be supplied by sources that are digestible. A good example is copper. Copper is vital to antler growth in that it is involved in collagen production, which is a major protein found in a growing antler. If a formula used copper oxide to supply the copper requirement, little copper will be utilized by the deer. However, if a product used copper sulfate, nearly all the copper can be utilized by the deer. Finally, the deer must eat the minerals and vitamins. This is where “nutraction” comes into play. The Whitetail Institute uses various types of attractants, most of which were developed by the Institute to ensure adequate consumption. These attractants are very powerful and therefore can be used at low levels to not interfere with the main purpose of the product, which is to supply the minerals and vitamins vital for antler growth.
To everything there is a purpose. The purpose of an attractant is to draw deer to a certain location. The purpose of a mineral/vitamin supplement is to be a “nutractant” by supplying essential nutrients, while attracting deer at the same time. So in making your decision on starting a lick site ask yourself, “Do I want to just attract deer, or do I want to attract deer and provide them needed nutrition?”
If your decision is to go with a mineral/vitamin supplement, choose wisely. There are products on the market claiming to be mineral/vitamin supplements but, at close inspection, are basically attractants in disguise. Remember to use the 50 percent rule. If the product contains more than 50 percent salt, it is basically an attractant. The Whitetail Institute’s line of 30-06 mineral/vitamin products and Cutting Edge nutritional supplements have been developed to supply all the vital nutrients for antler growth, formulated at the appropriate ratios and amounts with the highest digestible ingredients. Their mineral/vitamin content far exceeds 50 percent – more than 90 percent minerals and vitamins in some cases. They are also powerful attractants. Whitetail Institute products are the best example on the market of “nutractants.”