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.
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