Cattle can compliment or be very detrimental to a deer management program.  Cattle prefer a diet of grass while deer like forbs, legumes, and browse (certain vines, shrubs, and trees).  Whether the cattle are beneficial or detrimental to the deer management program, depends on the type of grazing system used and the stocking rate of the cattle.

Competition between cattle and deer occurs when a pasture is grazed on a continuous basis. This is further complicated when the continuous grazed pasture is overstocked with cattle.  The problem with continuous grazing is that often there is not enough grass in the pasture for the livestock. The cattle will then utilize the browse plants that the deer depend on for their diet.  Although browse plants are not as high in protein or as preferred as weeds, they play a critical role in the deer's diet because they are available on a year round basis.  Weeds and legumes are available on a seasonal basis and deer must depend on browse and other food sources such as nuts and fruits when forbs are not available.

Most continuous grazed pastures have a browse line. A browse line is created at the highest level that cattle can reach when eating on bushes and trees.  It can best be seen from a distance. The vegetation above the line is quite lush and thick while below the line it is much more sparse because much of it has been eaten.  The vegetation above the browse line cannot be reached by the deer and, consequently, has no value for them.  A browse line becomes very easy to see when one compares the woody vegetation in a continuous grazed pasture and the vegetation just across the fence in the road ditch.   The vegetation not exposed to cattle will be lush and thick down to ground level.

Cattle compliment a deer management program when they are stocked at the proper rate and on a rotational grazing system.  In a rotational grazing system cattle are rotated from pasture to pasture as the grass is grazed to a certain height.  This prevents overgrazing and the livestock do not compete with deer for browse when the grass is gone.  Reducing the height of the grass allows sunlight to reach the ground and encourages the growth of forbs (weeds), which is the preferred food of deer.  This cycle continues as the cattle are rotated through the pastures.

Cattle play a very important role in deer management.  Without any grazing at all, grasses will take over and limit the food available to deer.  With too many cattle or poor grazing schemes, the cattle will compete directly with the deer for browse and some forbs.  A good grazing scheme, a proper stocking rate, and careful evaluation of the habitat on a regular basis will benefit the cattle, deer, other wildlife, and the land.

For assistance in managing deer and/or other wildlife, contact Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, 304 South LaGrange St., Hallettsville, Texas 77964, or call 512-798-2625.

For more information on grazing systems and stocking rates call Shannon DeForest, Lavaca County Agricultural Extension Agent at 512-798-2221.  Let him know what your goals are concerning cattle and wildlife.