Ortega et al. studied the botanical composition of cattle (Bos taurus) and white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) diets and the partitioning of dietary resources between the two species under short-duration and continuous grazing, each under heavy and moderate stocking rates. Deer and cattle diets were found to be disparate under every treatment. Deer preferred forbs (72%) and cattle preferred grasses (60%) and forbs (39%). The greatest dietary overlap was found during the winter months under the short-duration, heavy stocking treatment. This overlap occurred when both species were utilizing western ragweed (Ambrosia psilostachya), Carolina geranium (Geranium carolinianum), evening primrose (Oenothera speciosa), wood-sorrel (Oxalis dillenii), and prairie coneflower (Ratibida columnaris). To reduce dietary overlap between cattle and deer the authors recommend a moderate stocking rate and continuous grazing to establish an environment with a greater selection of forbs for deer.
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