Kerr WMA: Deer Research Projects

Nutritional Spike vs Genetic Spike

There is no such thing. All animals have a genetic potential that is influenced by its environment. Antler development is neither nutritional nor genetic. It is a combination of both. A long spike is not a genetic spike. A small spike is not a nutritional spike. Within a given year and on the same range, a small spike has less potential than the long spike. To improve overall antler quality, both should be removed (the smaller one first)!