Grazing did not influence the number of standing reproductive culms per plant in bluebunch wheatgrass. Crude protein and in vitro dry matter digestibility of bluebunch wheatgrass in grazed plots increased by 1.0 and 4.3 percentage points, respectively, over ungrazed plots. Standing Idaho fescue reproductive culms decreased by 0.7 culms plant -1 under grazing. Crude protein of Idaho fescue in grazed plots was 1.3 percentage points greater than in ungrazed plots. Crude protein and in vitro dry matter digestibility responses of elk sedge were inconsistent between years and may be related to utilization or growth differences between years.
More research is needed regarding the effects of grazing on the winter forage quality of elk sedge.