2026 Volume 79 Pages 63-69
To identify minerals that are specifically deficient in female sika deer, we examined whether the mineral content of plants meets the nutritional requirements of sika deer (Cervus nippon). Satisfaction rates were calculated for essential minerals—phosphorus (P), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), potassium (K), iron (Fe), selenium (Se), and zinc (Zn), as well as sodium (Na), magnesium (Mg), and calcium (Ca) —and potential differences in mineral deficiencies between females and males were assessed. Satisfaction rates were determined by dividing the estimated mineral supply from plants—based on randomly selected sets of 10 or 20 palatable species recorded in the global plant trait database TRY—by the respective mineral requirements for male and female sika deer. We considered four body weight (BW) scenarios, which were used to calculate the minimum daily dry matter intake (DMI) required for maintenance. These values were used in turn to estimate both mineral supply and requirements. The result indicated that P and Cu, in addition to Na, could be potential candidates for selectively attracting female sika deer, as the satisfaction rates of these minerals in females were generally below 1.0, with only a few simulations slightly exceeding 1.0, and were consistently lower than those observed in males. Other minerals, Mn, K, Fe, Se, Zn, as well as Mg and Ca, were unlikely in shortage. We suggest that P and Cu merits further investigation as a potential selective attractant for female sika deer.
