Which plant category is generally the least desirable for a concentrate selector like the deer?
Answer
Grasses
Grasses, especially mature perennial varieties, are the least desirable food category for white-tailed deer because they possess low digestibility, which conflicts directly with the deer's physiological need to efficiently process concentrates. While deer might consume emerging, softer grass shoots in late winter or early spring when other options are severely limited, or when pawing through snow, mature grasses offer poor nutritional returns for the energy expended to consume them, making them a food of last resort for this specialized digestive system.
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