Effects of cattle, sheep and deer grazing on soil physical quality and losses of phosphorus and suspended sediment losses in surface runoff

▶ Livestock grazing can decrease soil physical quality and is linked to a decrease in water quality. ▶ We examined the grazing impacts of cattle, sheep and deer over a 2-year period. ▶ Cattle were found to have a greater detrimental impact on soil quality than either sheep or deer. ▶ These differences had no impact on P and SS losses between stock types in surface runoff. ▶ Restricted grazing in winter can help reduce runoff losses and maintain soil physical quality.