In Vitro Digestibility among Accessions of Big Sagebrush by Wild Mule Deer and Its Relationship to Monoterpenoid Content

Abstract

Results of in vitro digestibility trials indicate that big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) is a highly digestible browse for wintering mule deer. Subspecies tridentata (62.1% digested dry matter) was more highly digested than subspecies vaseyana (53.2% digested dry matter) and subspecies wyomingensis (51.4% digested dry matter). On an accession level, some accessions of big sagebrush were more highly digested than others. The accessional range was from 44.6% digested dry matter to 64.8%. No relationship was found between total monoterpenoids (essential or volatile oils) content and digestibility.