EVALUATING GRAZING STRATEGIES FOR CATTLE - NUTRITION OF CATTLE AND DEER

We studied cattle and deer diet quality within replicated grazing trea tments of continuous and short-duration grazing at heavy and moderate stocking rates, The study was conducted at the Welder Wildlife Refuge, Sinton, Tex from October 1987 to July 1988, We obtained cattle diet s amples from esophageally fistulated steers, Deer diets were reconstruc ted using data obtained through the bite-count technique, Digestibilit y (IVDOM) and crude protein (CP) of cattle diets were similar between grazing systems and stocking rates, Digestibility of deer diets was af fected by both grazing systems and stocking rates, Dietary CP and IVDO M of deer and cattle diets both differed among seasons, Dietary CP lev els met maintenance requirements for deer throughout the study, Also, CP levels were high enough to meet low-to mid-gestation requirements, Deer dietary protein requirements for growth and lactation were never met regardless of grazing strategy, Although protein content of rattle diets was relatively low, these values satisfied cattle maintenance n eeds, Nursing cows, however, would not have met their requirement in a ny season sampled regardless of grazing system or stocking rate, Conti nuous grazing and moderate stocking rates may provide white-tailed dee r the opportunity for selecting diets containing more desirable forbs and greater nutrient concentration, Less intensive rotational grazing at moderate rates may be preferred to maintain a relatively high seral stage.