Effects of cattle grazing on mule deer diet and area selection
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Authors: D. D. Austin, and P. J. Urness
Date: 1986
Journal: Journal of Range Management
Volume: 39
Number: 1
Pages: 18-21
Summary of Methods: Four, 0.5 acre sampling areas were established in spring 1983 along 0.93 mile of a canyon in Sheeprock Mountains of western Utah. Half of each area was randomly excluded from cattle grazing. Forage production on each half was measured. Dietary and habitat choices of mule deer were assessed by observing four tame mule deer. Diet of each deer was determined by recording species grazed and number of bites taken. Plant samples were taken in grazed and ungrazed treatments to calculate percent crude protein and in vitro dry matter digestibility for each species comprising 1% or more of mean diets.
Article Summary / Main Points: Mule deer tended to select higher proportion of forbs in areas ungrazed by cattle, due to availability. However, there was no difference in preference for browse or grass between grazed and ungrazed sites. There are few nutritional differences in mule deer diets on grazed and ungrazed areas. Mule deer prefer to initially forage on areas ungrazed by cattle when deer numbers are low.
Vegetation Types: Salt Desert Shrublands
MLRA Ecoregions: 28A Great Salt Lake Area
Agrovoc Control Words: Wildlife Grazing Rangelands
Article Review Type: Refereed
Article Type: Experimental Research
Keywords: livestock, mule deer, wildlife, nutrition
Annotation: This study discusses mule deer and cattle interaction on summer range, which is less common than other wildlife livestock interactions. Interesting results and observations are still gained from this study. However, if this study were to be repeated some changes should be made. The enclosures seemed small for the length of feeding trial. The study was well designed and had some useful results. Table 1 is particularly useful for listing some of the species that mule deer select in their diet in this area.
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