Effects of domestic goats on deer wintering in Utah oakbrush
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Authors: R. A. Riggs, P. J. Urness, and K. A. Gonzalez
Date: 1990
Journal: Journal of Range Management
Volume: 43
Number: 3
Pages: 229-234
Summary of Methods: Riggs et al. looked at the effects that goat browsing can have on mule deer winter diet selection. Under snow-covered conditions, deer responded to the goat browsing by increasing the amount of sagebrush in their diets, which in turn increased dry matter digestibility. When snow cover was lacking, deer focused more on herbaceous and graminoid species. The authors stated that in years of deep snow, goat browsing can enhance mule deer winter diets, but in years of little snow, understory management, such as cattle or sheep grazing, are needed to increase forage for deer.
Article Summary / Main Points: None
Vegetation Types:
MLRA Ecoregions:
Agrovoc Control Words: Riparian zones Rangelands Wildlife
Article Review Type: Refereed
Article Type: Experimental Research
Keywords: odocoileus hemionus hemionus, capra hircus, forage-base change, winter food habits, nutritional plane, activity budgets, foraging efficiency
Annotation: Authors were not measuring grazing intensity, but rather the amount of dietary change of deer, due to goat browsing.
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