Grasfresser

Grasfresser is a German term referring to an animal that feeds predominantly on grasses. In ecology it denotes herbivores whose diet is largely composed of grasses and other herbaceous vegetation, spanning wild mammals such as cattle, sheep, goats, deer and horses, as well as some birds and insects that graze on grasses.

Ecological role: Grazers convert plant biomass into animal energy, influence plant community composition and nutrient cycling, and contribute to landscape heterogeneity. They can suppress woody plant succession, promote soil aeration, and interact with grazing pressure and fire regimes. Many grazers host specialized gut microbes enabling breakdown of cellulose; ruminants use a four-chambered stomach, while horses and many rodents rely on hindgut fermentation.

Physiology and diet: Grasses are often low in nutrients; grazers exhibit dental adaptations (incisors for cropping, flat molars for grinding), and digestive adaptations (rumen in ruminants; large cecum in hindgut fermenters). Diet can be selective by grass species and plant age; seasonal changes alter forage quality.

Human relevance: Domesticated grazers such as cattle, sheep, goats, and horses support agriculture and transport. Grassland management and rotational grazing aim to balance productivity with ecosystem health and biodiversity. Overgrazing can lead to soil erosion, loss of plant diversity, and desertification.