Diets of Domestic Sheep and Other Large Herbivores in Southcentral Colorado

Abstract

The botanical composition of herbage consumed by domestic sheep, mule deer, domestic cattle and elk from critical big game winter ranges in southcentral Colorado was studied using the fecal analysis technique. The food habits of domestic sheep grazed during the late spring overlapped those of mule deer by 15%, elk 46%, and domestic cattle by 53%. Mule deer diets were 10% similar to cattle and 30% to elk. Elk and cattle diets averaged 39% identical on the study area. The low similarity in diet between domestic stock and mule elk suggests that livestock grazing in the study area could be made compatible with the winter range needs of mule deer, but the potential competition between elk and domestic stock needs additional study.