Observations on white-tailed deer and habitat response to livestock grazing in south Texas
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Authors: W. E. Cohen, D. L. Drawe, F. C. Bryant, and L. C. Bradley
Date: 1989
Journal: Journal of Range Management
Volume: 42
Number: 5
Pages: 361-365
Summary of Methods: This study evaluated how white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) home ranges, movement indices and forage availability were effected by short-duration grazing (SDG) and continuous grazing (CG) by cattle (Bos taurus). White-tailed does' home ranges were comparable for both SDG and CG. Between deer locations, the deer moved 35% more in SDG than in CG between May and August. Since this is during periods of increased energy demands from gestation and fawning, the increased travel could potentially take a toll on reproduction. During two cycles of SDG, does avoided cattle by alternating between preferred habitats, rather than predictable paddock-to-paddock movement. Various forage species preferred by deer were more common under CG than SDG. Overall, total grass and forb cover was similar in SDG and CG.
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: continuous grazing, short-duration grazing, odocoileus virginianus, home range, movement indices, cattle grazing
Annotation: The short-duration grazing (SDG) cells consisted of a 219 ha pasture sub-divided into 10 paddocks. Each paddock was grazed for 2 to 8 days and then rested for 32 to 47 days. The year-round, continuously grazing pasture was 253 ha and stocked at 2.8 ha/au.
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