It all depends on the ruffage they are getting outside of the protein pellet. If you look at the feces of a deer and it is not in individual pellets but more of a soft combination of pellets formed into a log, your fat levels are to high. The log is a result of the deers body not being able to digest the total nutrients from the feces before discharge. This is due to a high level of undigested fat that has coated the GI tract. Inorder to avoid this, feed only the amount of hay that your pen will eat in one day (stems and leaves). By doing this, the deer will be forced to eat the ruffage. This ruffage will act like a "scrub brush" and clean out the undigested fat that has coated the inner lining of the GI tract.
So to answer your question, it depends on your feeding methods.
1) To feed your herd the 8-10% fat level, you MUST feed ONLY the amount of ruffage your deer will consume that day.
2) If you are not able to feed ruffage daily, reduce your % of fat. This way you are getting the most bang for your buck. (deer and $$$).
If this isn't clear or you have any other question please give me a call.
