Dietary overlap between cattle (Bos taurus) and white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) was greatest during the winter and least during the summer. Competition between deer and cattle in the winter is suggested by reduced dietary quality and dietary overlap. However, a facilitative effect during the summer is suggested by the increase in forbs and, in turn, dietary quality for deer, due to cattle grazing stimulating the growth of early successional plant species. Fecal nitrogen, an indicator of diet quality, was lower for deer in areas with February-cattle grazing, but higher in August and October-cattle grazing events.
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