Observations on the grazing of double low oilseed rape and other crops by roe deer

Feeding of roe deer which had access to a double low oilseed rape field was observed between January and March 1989 using night vision goggles. Roe deer were found to prefer oilseed rape and winter barley in January but were recorded grazing only the winter barley in February and March. Postmortem analysis of the rumen content of deer confirmed that winter barley was the mayor constituent of the diet of roe deer in February. Chemical analysis of the oilseed rape between December and March indicated changes in glucosinolate levels which may have altered its palatability to roe deer.