Effect of domestic cattle on the condition of female white-tailed deer in southern pine-bluestem forests, USA
-
-
Authors: J. A. Jenks, and D. M. Leslie, Jr
Date: 2003
Journal: Acta Theriologica
Volume: 48
Number: 1
Pages: 131-144
Summary of Methods: Effects of cattle stocking rates (heavy, moderate to light, and no grazing) on condition of white-tailed deer were measured by comparing physical condition of deer in Oklahoma and Arkansas. Female deer from each treatment area were harvested and necropsied in February and August of each year.
Article Summary / Main Points: High stocking rates negatively impact reproduction, body size/weight and biochemical indices of white-tailed deer in southern forests. Moderate to light stocking rates also impact white-tailed deer but not to the same degree. Deer collected from the high stocking treatment were found to be in poor nutritional condition compared to deer from lightly to moderately grazed sites and ungrazed sites.
Vegetation Types: Grazed Forest
MLRA Ecoregions: 135B Cretaceous Western Coastal Plain
Agrovoc Control Words: Grazing systems Rangelands Ungulates
Article Review Type: Refereed
Article Type: Experimental Research
Keywords: odocoileus virginianus, nutritional condition, cattle, competition, reproduction
Annotation: This replicated study was conducted over two years; these results are applicable to southern grazed forests and adjacent rangelands. As is true for all grazing research, the results are most directly applicable to areas with similar landscapes, type of ungulates, weather conditions and season of use. Additionally, Jenks et al. (1996, Acta Theriologica 41:287-306) studied the effect of competition between white-tailed deer and cattle populations in southern pine forests, also available on the RSIS website. Both articles detail how cattle grazing can negatively impact the health of white-tailed deer when they compete for forage on shared rangelands.
-
Get article
Cite article with DOI
-