Good topic you and BSK have going. I've been frustrated trying to find out information on deer digestion in the past. One good link (study on competition between cattle, deer and goats) gives some pretty reliable information. - http://wildthings.tamu.edu/publicati...DPUBS/A080.PDF

From my own experiences and investigations, I've concluded that deer do eat some true grasses, but mostly by accident. I've been intersested in the grass question for years, as I, and others often see deer feeding in lawns and even on golf courses - apparently eating grass. I've come to the conclusion that the deer are eating some of this grass by accident, as they "hunt" for new growth forbs in this environment. I don't think there is much question the deer do not feed on mature stands of grasses (timothy, fescue, etc.) When a feild or lawn is mowed, competition is reduced for forbs as they shoot skyward trying to out compete the much more dominant grasses, and the deer key in on this food source. Also, if deer can digest any grasses - it would be the tender young shoots available right after mowing, I do not think though thats why you observe deer feeding in a lawn. http://www.suwanneeriverranch.com/WTinfoCdiet.htm

I do agree that Cattle and Deer's digestive systems are very different. Though since they are both ruminants - the huge amount of studies on cattle can give us insight into deer biology (as comparitively little studies exist for deer). Caution should be taken when comparing horses to deer though since their their digestive systems are completely different as the are not ruminants http://www.equinestudies.org/structur.htm