Ranching Operations Research Articles

451 Establishing producer research sites for the development of beef and bison climate-smart agriculture

Abstract Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and livestock production are topics that are increasingly intertwined. While livestock production is frequently presented as harmful to the environment, this perception fails to consider the carbon sequestration that takes place in livestock grazing systems and the role that grazing ruminants have in maintaining healthy grassland ecosystems. Grazing lands, which are often unsuited to row crop agriculture, are estimated to account for 25% of the global soil sequestration potential for soil carbon storage. Grazing livestock producers are often overlooked in the GHG reduction conversation, despite over 70% of beef GHG emissions being attributed to the cow-calf sector, which is primarily grazing. Furthermore, there is a relative lack of data surrounding the implementation of climate-smart agriculture practices on grazing operations and a lack of cost-effective methods to measure carbon/GHG sinks and sources on these landscapes. The potential climate benefits are considerable, with nearly 940 million acres of rangelands in the U.S. supporting forage-based livestock production. South Dakota State University recently received funding to support a large-scale climate-smart project focused on grazing beef and bison. For this project, we are utilizing the Cottonwood Field Station that has over 80 yr of historical grazing data, along with six grazing beef and bison ranching operations in the Northern Great Plains. The work on these ranches will focus on measuring and monitoring the impacts of climate-smart NRCS land practices, including cover crops, improved pasture and range seedings, prescribed grazing, and prescribed burning. A significant focus will be extensive, annual soil sampling across these operations to continuously monitor changes in soil organic carbon, bulk density, texture, pH, and soil microbiome community profiles. Each operation will have GreenFeed methane pasture units deployed for 5 yr to monitor changes in beef cattle and bison methane emissions in response to climate-smart practice adoption. We are also assessing biodiversity pre and post climate-smart practice adoption, as biodiversity improvements may be one of the most overlooked and yet most important responses to climate-smart land practice implementation. Over the duration of this project, a large-scale, comprehensive data collection will be achieved and used to refine GHG and carbon sequestration estimates associated with range livestock systems. Data resulting from this project will be used to inform research protocols and prediction models, fill knowledge gaps, and shape science-based discussions and marketing strategies for climate-smart agricultural commodities.

Economic Effects of Federal Grazing Programs

Livestock grazing supports a considerable amount of economic activity across the United States. Federal grazing permits support numerous ranching operations by providing relatively low-cost grazing on federal lands. While grazing supports employment, labor income, and economic activity within a given state, the extent to which federal grazing permits play a role remains uncertain. In this paper we develop a method for estimating state-level economic contributions of livestock grazing for cattle grazing, as well as sheep and goat grazing, that is applicable to both the US Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management. We report state-level direct response coefficients, defined as the economic effects per 1 000 animal unit months of grazing use. We apply our coefficients to grazing lands for both US Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management to estimate state-level economic contributions of federal grazing, finding that the economic effects of federal grazing are highest in western states where there are large amounts of public land. The measures of economic impact produced in this study were developed for consistent nationwide analyses. These measures may be used by researchers and land managers for conducting policy impacts and analysis of livestock grazing (e.g., increases or decreases of permitted grazing on public land) but are not intended to replace project- or site-specific economic analyses.

Mortality and management matter: Case study on use and misuse of ‘ranching’ for a CITES Appendix II-listed fish, humphead wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus)

CITES is the most important international instrument for managing threatened or potentially threatened wildlife trade. If listed organisms are removed from the wild at stages of highest natural mortality and held in captivity to increase survivorship and hence make more organisms available for trade without impact on wild populations, this form of production is termed ‘ranching’ (coded ‘R’ under CITES). To gain benefits for livelihoods and species, ranching must be managed effectively and wild capture conducted sustainably. CITES-listed species are increasingly being ranched, yet in many cases key information on natural and captive mortality and implications for trade controls of introducing ranching is lacking. Endangered (IUCN Red List) fish humphead wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus) was traded in wild (W-code) form after its CITES App II-listing in 2004, with ranching subsequently introduced in 2018. This well-studied species is used as a case study to examine the outcomes and implications of uncontrolled ranching (capture and grow-out) operations. For humphead wrasse, ranching is currently unjustifiable according to CITES provisions and poses a further potential threat to the species. Fourteen recommendations call for action by CITES as well as along much of the trade chain. CITES must review and define when ranching can be applied and operate sustainably. Exporting countries must ensure sustainable catches accounting for mortality levels at capture and during ranching, and conduct an appropriate non-detriment finding, while import destinations need to effectively distinguish and control the trade in W- and R-coded fish. A Review of Significant Trade, assessment of legal acquisition and communications between Parties are recommended.

Economics of Raramuri Criollo and British crossbred cattle production in the Chihuahuan desert: Effects of foraging distribution and finishing strategy

Significant challenges for raising beef cattle exist in the arid and semi-arid regions of the United States. Limited forage availability and small profit margins are among the greatest concerns in Western U.S. ranching operations. One potential option for ranchers in these regions is using alternative cattle genetics, such as Raramuri Criollo (RC), a Mexican heritage biotype of cattle brought to the Americas by Spanish Conquistadors. Previous research has shown that compared to commercial beef breeds, RC cattle exhibit behavior traits that result in foraging patterns that could reduce the environmental footprint of rangeland animal agriculture. We investigated the profitability of raising this biotype in an alternative production system (grass finishing) in the Chihuahuan Desert by producing enterprise budgets for a herd of RC cattle on the Jornada Experimental Range. Results show that RC cattle have lower operating and overhead costs when compared to Angus x Hereford (AxH) crossbred cattle. This reduction in costs allowed the RC cattle operation to have greater net returns to land and risk when compared to an AxH cattle operation in the same location. Raising RC cattle could be a means of strengthening the economic sustainability of desert beef cattle ranching in the United States.

American Zion: Cliven Bundy, God and Public Lands in the West

American Zion, according to historian Betsy Gaines Quammen in her recent book of that title, is both a place and an idea central to understanding the Bundy family, their brand of ideology, and the actions they took at Bunkerville and the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge less than a decade ago. Quammen's account of the historical, religious, and intellectual contexts in which the Bundys operate is clearly and accessibly written for a general audience unfamiliar with the interior American West and its diverse array of public lands.Produced by Torrey House Press, a publisher known for works that unapologetically promote environmental activism, American Zion takes seriously the thoughts and rationale of the Bundys but does not hesitate to condemn their actions. Quammen's book sits alongside a growing body of work on the Bundys and public lands by the likes of journalists and scholars such as Peter Walker, Michael J. Makley, James Pogue, Christopher Ketcham, John Temple, Anthony McCann, James R. Skillen, Jacqueline Keeler, and John L. Smith.Quammen's contribution is positioning the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its members (Latter-day Saints or Mormons) at the center of the story. Outside of the region the western writer Wallace Stegner called Mormon Country, it is difficult for Americans to imagine how important Latter-day Saints, their church, and their faith have been to the development to the interior American West. Mormon settlers built irrigation structures, developed ranching operations, and populated mining towns with permanent residents in the geography between the Sierra Nevada and Rocky Mountains, the Columbia Plateau, and the Mojave Desert. Quammen, as well as the LDS church itself, readily recognizes that settlement directly displaced and dispossessed Indigenous peoples, but her focus is on the mindset of those settlers. The Mormons of the past brought with them into Zion, the place where they believed God had granted them a homeland, a grudge against the federal government, a stubborn endurance despite constant persecution by mainstream Americans, a belief in the dominion of humans over nature as evidenced by irrigation projects and ranch operations, and a gun-toting militancy born of self-preservation. These are the tenants of faith, according to Quammen, to which the Bundys and others like them adhere.Mainstream Latter-day Saint doctrine today exhibits few of these early characteristics, and Quammen does an admirable job parsing the differences between past and present. But her emphasis on the continuum of belief between early Mormon leaders and the church's deeply conservative faction, represented by Ezra Taft Benson and Cleon Skousen, tie these leaders to other Christian fundamentalists. Catholic Paul Weyrich and Southern Baptists Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson, along with Benson and Skousen, adhered to the same tenants: that God is an active participant in the lives of individuals who often undergo faith-promoting experiences; the Constitution is divinely inspired but few truly understand its power; evil is actively at work in the world, and the federal government is held hostage by it; and the apocalyptic war against evil is coming and God's chosen must defend their faith, family, and freedom. Quammen takes these beliefs seriously and details how they manifested in the actions of people such as Cliven Bundy.For some readers, American Zion will not resonate. Those more familiar with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will likely chafe at the emphasis on the fringe aspects of the religion. However, Quammen does counterweight her examination of the deeply conservative elements with descriptions of other Latter-day Saints of influence, such as the historian Juanita Brooks whose history of the Mountain Meadows Massacre accurately laid responsibility at the feet of church leaders; Senator Reed Smoot, who co-sponsored the legislation that birthed the National Park Service and Zion National Park; and environmental writers such as Gina Colvin, Joanna Brooks, George Handley, and Terry Tempest Williams.Similarly, environmental historians of the American West will notice the absence of literature that would have provided greater nuance to her discussion of multiple use on public lands, the development of recreational tourism, and the consequences of working landscapes intersecting with recreational ones in the rural West. Notably missing are Hal K. Rothman's Devil's Bargains (1998), Art Gomez's Quest for the Golden Circle (2000), Evelyn Schlatter's Aryan Cowboys (2006), Joseph Taylor's Persistent Callings (2019), and my own The Size of the Risk: Histories of Multiple Use in the Great Basin (2015).However, Quammen did not write American Zion for those already familiar with the history of Mormonism and the American West. Her audience is outside Utah and outside this region, and the book's utility is in helping those unfamiliar with this place and its past see beyond the caricatures.

The Rise and Fall of the Lazy S Ranch by David J. Murrah

Reviewed by: The Rise and Fall of the Lazy S Ranch by David J. Murrah John Caraway The Rise and Fall of the Lazy S Ranch. By David J. Murrah. (College Station: Texas A&M University Press, 2021. Pp. 152. Illustrations, notes, bibliography, index.) Every rancher, whether the holdings are ten or ten thousand acres, considers the ranch a legacy for children, grandchildren, and generations to follow. Financier and rancher Christopher Columbus “C. C.” Slaughter was no exception. Slaughter intended his Lazy S Ranch to be “an insurance policy for my children, undivided and indivisible until the death of the last one of my family” (33). As is the case with so many family ranching operations, Slaughter’s dream of an indivisible empire for his family fell apart due to death, the family strife that often follows, poor management, and debt. Although the breakup of the Lazy S transformed the region, the history of the ranch was largely lost, a West Texas story waiting to be told. In The Rise and Fall of the Lazy S Ranch, David J. Murrah rekindles his interest in the Slaughter family and their ranching empire while using newly available records to provide a fresh perspective on the legacy of the Lazy S. Murrah’s accessible and entertaining study chronicles the rise of C. C. Slaughter’s South Plains ranching interest while masterfully detailing the history of ranching in the region during a transformative period in Texas. In the creation of the Lazy S, Slaughter not only contended with the formidable challenges posed by the arid climate of the Llano Estacado, an unstable cattle market, and rival ranchers, but also with unique issues stemming from changes in state land laws as cotton and grain farmers began to colonize the region. Moreover, Murrah masterfully illustrates the internal dynamic among Slaughter’s sons that ultimately led to the demise of the ranch. In addition, the book details the transformation of agriculture on the southern plains during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries as large-scale cattle ranching gave way to cotton and petroleum production, forever changing the economic landscape of the region and the state of Texas as a whole. Although the Lazy S failed to become the indivisible empire Slaughter desired, the ranch holdings, through the discovery of oil on the property, provided the generational insurance policy he wanted. Slaughter lands still provide income to some fortunate heirs, but the true legacy of the Lazy S lies in the establishment of the counties and communities created and supported by the ranch’s operations. As anyone involved in the industry knows, ranching is a hard business. Building and perhaps more importantly maintaining a legacy for generations to come is difficult at best. Murrah provides a brief, accessible history here, not only of the ranch, but also of the time and place in which the rise and fall of the Lazy S occurred. The study represents an important contribution to the history of ranching in Texas and the Southwest that [End Page 136] can be appreciated by both the professional historian and the layperson. Murrah’s exceptional book should provide a model for other studies of large- and small-scale ranching operations throughout the South Plains and West Texas during the latter nineteenth and twentieth centuries. John Caraway Cisco College Copyright © 2022 The Texas State Historical Association

Bound to the Land: Cove Fort in Kesler Family History and Memory

Bound to the Land: Cove Fort in Kesler Family History and Memory

A History of Ranching Operations in the Saddle Region of Hawai'i Island

A History of Ranching Operations in the Saddle Region of Hawai'i Island

A Synthesis of Ranch-Level Sustainability Indicators for Land Managers and to Communicate Across the US Beef Supply Chain

While increasing numbers of ranchers are striving to demonstrate sustainable ranching operations geared toward a healthy landscape, companies are seeking to advance sustainability along beef supply chains and consumers are making more environmentally oriented purchasing choices. Yet there is a need for greater clarity on which indicators are most effective for assessing and monitoring sustainable management and continuous improvement of ranching operations. Our objective was to synthesize existing guidance on monitoring and assessing ranch-scale sustainability in the United States and to identify core ecological, social, and economic indicators that could identify well-managed ranching, support adaptive management, and demonstrate producers’ sustainability and continuous improvement to retailers and consumers. We evaluated 21 range and pastureland assessments from nongovernmental organizations, agencies, and academics that totaled 180 indicators. From this, we selected 20 commonly used “core” indicators (12 ecological and 8 socioeconomic). We identified indicators that are designed to detect change over time for management practices, common among many approaches, and/or critical indicators for outcomes of common interest to producers, companies, and consumers. The synthesis of indicators across many guidance documents offers insight into what a diverse set of range professionals and institutions see as critical to demonstrate and track ranch-level sustainability, and producers, consumers, and companies may find a subset of these indicators to be relevant for their operation and region, values, and/or company sustainability goals. The synthesis also highlights the need for more integration and agreement on socioeconomic indicators of ranch sustainability. We acknowledge that socioeconomic indicators are context dependent and discuss the pitfalls of not integrating them into ranch assessments. Finally, we identified four issues to consider in operationalizing widespread use of common indicators: 1) who bears the cost, 2) agreement on simple and robust standardized protocols, 3) developing region-specific thresholds, and 4) issues of data privacy and sharing agreements for data use.

Ranchers and Beavers: Understanding The Human Dimensions of Beaver-Related Stream Restoration on Western Rangelands

The past decade has seen a rapid rise in beaver-related stream restoration (BRR) using beavers and beaver dams (real or artificial) as a tool. Potential benefits of this low-cost, nature-based restoration approach include restoring aquatic and riparian habitat and recovering of threatened species dependent on it, improving water availability and stream flow regulation, reducing erosion and stream incision, and supporting climate change adaptation. Although the ecological restoration literature acknowledges the importance of addressing the human dimensions of restoration, there is a gap regarding the human dimensions of BRR. To help fill this gap we examined six projects involving riparian revegetation or artificial beaver dams to identify central elements of a supportive social environment for BRR on western rangelands. Our research questions examined how beavers, beaver dams, and BRR affect ranching operations and how ranchers view them; the policy context for BRR; and how BRR practitioners, regulatory agencies, ranchers, and partners work together for successful BRR. We synthesized our findings across cases and identified six social factors important for BRR: 1) ranchers who perceive the benefits of beavers, beaver dams, and BRR to outweigh the drawbacks; 2) education and assistance to help landowners adopt nonlethal mitigation techniques for nuisance beavers; 3) grazing practices compatible with BRR; 4) low harvest pressure on beavers; 5) a regulatory environment that enables experimentation, flexibility, and adaptive management; and 6) proponents, ranchers, and partners willing to take risks, innovate, be flexible, and stay committed.

The history and importance of private lands for North American waterfowl conservation

ABSTRACTWaterfowl conservation in North America provides an example of an abundant wildlife resource that was driven to alarmingly low levels as a result of unregulated exploitation of its populations and habitats, but which has since recovered because of cooperative efforts across multiple countries. Waterfowl conservation in North America began in earnest during the late 19th and early 20th centuries and has developed through international treaties and national policy as well as regional partnerships and supporting efforts of private landowners. In recent years, significant accomplishments have been realized through public–private partnerships that use local knowledge and engagement with stakeholders to develop conservation programs that are compatible with landowner interests and existing farming or ranching operations. Through the presentation of case studies from across North America, we demonstrate there exists no single ‘best’ program or framework for conserving waterfowl habitat on private lands, although a common denominator for success is robust support from an energized and resourceful partnership. Financial incentives provided a positive encouragement for participation, but private land programs will be most effective long term when they explicitly incorporate the needs of private landowners and generate benefits beyond provision of wildlife habitat. Successful conservation of waterfowl populations into the future will require a suite of programs and strategies and will hinge on our ability to develop conservation solutions that provide mutual benefits to waterfowl and an increasingly diverse private‐landowner base. © 2019 The Wildlife Society.

Worldwide Abalone Production Statistics

In recent years, the total quantity of abalone produced on farms worldwide has increased significantly, although abalone fisheries have declined. Production from fisheries has decreased from almost 20,000 metric tonnes (mt) in the 1970s to only about 6,500 mt in 2016/17. Over the same period, farm production has increased from negligible quantities in the 1970s to about 160,662 mt in 2016/17, the vast majority being produced in China (139,697 mt) and South Korea (16,042 mt). Illegal exploitation, particularly in South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and California, is still a major problem reaching an estimated 7,000 mt in the 2016/17 period. A positive development that partially counteracts the illegal exploitation has been the establishment of restoration and ranching operations in various countries around the world. Taking all sources of abalone into account (fished, farmed, and illegal), it is estimated that in 2017, the total availability of abalone to the world market was 174,162 mt.

109 Mature cow size and impacts on cow efficiency

Abstract According to genetic trend data, mature BW in beef cows continues to increase although the pace is slowing. This change is not increased frame size as the genetic trend for mature height in Angus cattle has been flat since about 1995. In sell-at-weaning enterprises, calf value at weaning must accompany increased cow size to justify the added expense of larger cows. We used the California Net Energy System and NASEM (2016) equations to estimate the annual cost to maintain beef cows varying in mature size. Maintenance energy requirements were assumed to be 77 kcal per kg of metabolic body weight plus 20% during lactation. Reproductive efficiency and average daily milk production was assumed to be equal among the two mature cow BW scenarios. In ranching operations with average mature cow BW of 556 kg and annual feed and grazing costs of $400, $500, $600 or $700, increasing average mature BW by 90.8 kg resulted in increased projected annual feed and grazing cost of $41.05, $51.32, $61.58 and $71.84 per cow, respectively, or about 10%. Estimated differences in variable costs (labor, depreciation, etc.) were minor for the larger cow herd. Assuming an annual replacement rate of 16% and cull cow price of $1.32 per kg, cull cow income would increase by approximately $19.20 per cow per year in the larger cow scenario. Consequently, to break even with the 556 kg mature cow BW scenario, sell-at-weaning enterprises with average mature cow BW of 647 kg must achieve $21.85, $32.12, $42.38, or $52.64 increased calf value depending on average annual cow cost. These estimates of increased income required to offset increased mature cow BW are conservative because no cost was assigned to grow the additional 90.8 kg of cow BW.

Managing cow herd dynamics in environments of limited forage productivity and livestock marketing channels: An application to semi-arid Pacific island beef production using system dynamics

Sustainable ranching operations require access to adequate forage reserves and suitable means to market livestock, both of which are critical determinants of adaptive capacity (defined here as the ability to manipulate stocking rate). Ranch adaptive capacity is most relevant during times of forage shortages from drought. Unfortunately for island beef production systems, traditional adaptive measures used in continental systems are unavailable, such as transporting livestock to less affected areas, importing feed resources (cost prohibitive), intensive grazing practices or stockpiling forage (since forages mature too rapidly and are generally low quality), or destocking through cull cow sales (due to limited marketing and processing capacities). Located on an island of Hawaii, the case study ranch investigated here is challenged by each of these environmental and market constraints. The ranch resides on the leeward side of its island such that it receives minimal rainfall and forage productivity is similar to semi-arid rangelands in the western United States. The ranch's livestock management problem is compounded during drought, since island slaughter capacity is limited and there is no financially feasible means of marketing and transporting culled livestock off the island. Therefore, when forage is limited, managers are forced to retain ownership of culled mature cows, who are moved into a terminal herd to await the next available harvest or shipping availability. Terminal herds occupy areas with lower quality forages to conserve the most productive pastures for higher valued calves. This backlog of cull cows creates extended periods of stress on forage resources, since grazing pressure is not relieved as drought intensifies and increases operational expenses. A simulation model was created in an effort to identify key leverage points within the ranching operation that have the greatest impact on forage availability, herd size and net income. Upon completion of the model, sensitivity analyses were conducted to identify key drivers of model behaviors and several what-if scenarios were run based on questions provided by island ranch managers. Results showed that reducing terminal herd size through increased island processing capacity would not relieve forage pressure or eliminate the backlog of terminal cull cows, although net income was improved through greater cow sales. Several follow up tests were then run to evaluate changes to internal ranch decision making, which showed that reductions in heifer retention would provide a wider array of ecological and economic benefits. The ranch's ability to manipulate heifer retention rates, rather than cull cow rates, terminal herd shipping, or island processing capacity, was shown to be the critical aspect which drives ranch adaptive capacity.

Socioecological Determinants of Drought Impacts and Coping Strategies for Ranching Operations in the Great Plains

In Great Plains rangelands, drought is a recurring disturbance. Ranchers in this region expect to encounter drought but may not be adequately prepared for it. Efforts to encourage drought preparedness would benefit from a better understanding of the conditions under which managers make decisions to minimize the impacts of drought. We tested the direct and moderating roles of the drought hazard and the social-ecological context on drought impacts and response. This study was conducted with ranchers in western and central South Dakota and Nebraska following the drought that began in 2012. We surveyed ranchers regarding the effects of the drought and their responses and used multimodel analysis to explore the relationships among measures of drought preparedness, drought response, and drought impacts. Drought severity was the primary predictor of all impacts, but specific types of impacts were varied depending on the operation’s enterprise mix, resources, and management. The socioecological characteristics of the ranch system predicted drought response actions taken, by either providing the necessary resources and capacity to take action or creating sensitivity in the system that required action to be taken. We conclude with recommendations for learning from current drought experiences in order to better adapt to future drought events.

Octopus as predators of abalone on a sea ranch

AbstractThis study examined the occurrence of octopus across an abalone, Haliotis laevigata, Donovan, sea ranch in south‐western Australia, to understand how octopus may be impacting abalone production. Commercial divers removed 654 octopus and 17,666 empty abalone shells during regular, 2 to 4‐weekly surveys over 27 months. A negative binomial generalised linear model estimated a 78% increase in empty shells per artificial abalone habitat per day, when octopuses were present, after adjusting for location and season. Of the 408 shells examined for evidence of predation, 19% had a small, slightly ovoid hole consistent with those made by octopus. The mean (± 1 SE) length of shells with boreholes (70.3 ± 2.2 mm) was significantly longer than those without (59.8 ± 0.5 mm), and boreholes were concentrated over the adductor, respiratory organs and heart. This study provides important insights into the adaptable feeding regimes of octopus and their potential to impose strong top‐down controls on sea ranching operations.

Beef production and net revenue variability from grazing systems on semiarid grasslands of North America

Sustainability of ranches and rural economies in the Great Plains of western North America is contingent on the economic vitality of beef production in a changing climate. Our objective was to measure and compare the interannual variability of beef production (kg/ha) and net returns ($/ha) over the past 15 years (2003–2017) from grazing yearlings at three different grazing intensities (light, moderate and heavy) on semiarid shortgrass steppe from mid-May to October. Four useful insights emerged: 1) A ranking of interannual variability, from lowest to highest, reveals that beef production had the lowest coefficient of variation (CV = 17–29%), followed by aboveground net primary production (ANPP, 26–32%), spring/early summer precipitation (36%) and net revenue (107–139%). 2) Beef production increased with grazing intensity during average and wet years, but not during dry years. Beef production increased from early August to early September but became negligible from early September to the end of the grazing season. Overall, beef production and net revenue were 41% and 38% greater for the heavy grazing intensity compared to the recommended moderate grazing intensity, respectively. 3) Removing yearlings from pastures in early September rather than the traditional October timing would provide opportunities for ranchers to increase net returns. 4) Forage production, estimated through remote sensing information, was positively associated with beef production, but with a steeper slope for the heavy grazing intensity, indicating greater sensitivity at this grazing intensity level. Economic sustainability of beef production in this rangeland ecosystem is challenged by high interannual variability in net revenues. This variability suggests that ranchers should focus on understanding agricultural economic principles, livestock marketing, and available options for reducing price risk. These efforts would enhance both the economic sustainability of individual ranching operations and rural economies.

Unintended habitat loss on private land from grazing restrictions on public rangelands

Abstract Management of public lands, and who should have access to them, is often contentious. Most ranches in the western US rely upon seasonal grazing access to public lands, and conflict over biodiversity management has led to proposals to restrict grazing access on public lands. We evaluate whether grazing restrictions on public rangelands could have the unintended effect of increasing the conversion of private rangeland to cropland, causing habitat loss for sage‐grouse, a species of conservation concern. Using a model parameterized with empirical observations of land use change and ranch versus cropland profitability, we explore how changes to public lands grazing policy could affect ranch profitability and consequently land use on private lands across the western US. We predict that restricting grazing of public lands by 50% would result in the loss of an additional 171,400 ha of sage‐grouse habitat on private lands by 2050, on top of the 842,000 ha predicted to be lost under business as usual. Most of this conversion would affect sage‐grouse mesic habitat, 75% of which occurs on private land and is vital to the species during brood rearing. Under such policy changes, we estimate that an additional 105,700 ha (3.24%) of sage‐grouse mesic habitat held on private land in the study region would be directly lost by 2050, and the cumulative area affected by fragmentation would be much higher. By considering the human and ecological links between public and private land, we show that attempts to improve habitat on public lands via grazing restrictions could result in greater system‐wide fragmentation of sage‐grouse habitat from unintended habitat loss on private lands. Synthesis and applications. Policy interventions on public lands can affect private landholders. Landholders' responses can result in unintended consequences, both for habitat on private land and community support for conservation. Restricting grazing on US public lands is likely to increase habitat loss on private lands and reduce community support for sage grouse conservation. Policy that manages resources on public lands while also supporting sustainable, economically viable ranching operations on private lands is a promising approach to maximizing sage grouse habitat.

Woody cover and proximity to water increase American black bear depredation on cattle in Coahuila, Mexico

American black bear (Ursus americanus; hereafter, bear) depredation on cattle is a rare occurrence. Our study population of bears normally coexists with cattle ranching operations in Serranias del Burro, Coahuila, Mexico. However, we observed unusually high incidences of depredation upon cattle during a severe drought in 1999–2000. We documented >60 reports of calf kills among 3 herds; we were able to locate exact kill-site locations for 16 of these cases. Of the 16 kills, 15 were of calves and 1 was of a cow giving birth, which resulted in the death of both cow and calf. We used logistic regression to quantify how landscape features (i.e., grassland vs. woody habitats, distance to screening cover, and distance to water source at 16 kill sites and 26 random sites) influenced probability of cattle kills. Of known kill locations, 88% of kills (n = 14) took place in woody vegetation while 12% (n = 2) took place in grassland. Our analysis indicated that habitat type (woody vs. grassland) and distance to water source were important factors in predicting bear depredation on cattle. Mean probability of depredation was 2–3 times greater in woody vegetation than in open grassland and was highest near water tanks. The probability of encounter between bears and cattle likely increased as they localized movements around watering areas, which happened to coincide with calving areas and season. Bears utilized screening cover to approach and drag off calves while mother cows were foraging. Supervising and keeping cattle in grassland areas until calves are ≥1 month old and providing alternate water sources outside of calving areas may reduce the potential for conflict. Drought may increase the potential for conflict, so cattle management strategies during periods of low rainfall should be altered to minimize losses.

Decision Making Tools: BeefTracker mobile app for tracking and analysis of beef herd pasture use and location.

Beef Tracker is a web-based mapping platform that provides beef cattle ranchers a tool to demonstrate that cattle production fits within sustainable ecosystems and to provide regional data to update beef sustainability lifecycle analysis. After digitizing pastures, herd data (class and number of animals) are input on a mobile device in a graphical pasture interface, stored in the cloud, and linked via the web to a personal computer for inventory tracking and analysis. Pasture use calculated on an animal basis provides quantifiable data regarding carrying capacity and beef production. This data is sought by the National Beef Cattle Association to provide more accurate inputs for beef sustainability lifecycle analyses. This application is a useful way for large, complex ranching operations to have all employees remain informed as to cattle movements and ranch wide improvement projects. Better yet, as users make changes to their operation in BeefTracker, histories are automatically recorded and stored in the cloud. After initial testing by university range scientists and ranchers, we have enhanced the BeefTracker application to improve automation for increased ease of use. The following have been added: ability to access and edit the BeefTracker livestock inventory while disconnected from WiFi and cell service, ability to represent portions of a pasture in BeefTracker as irrigated and nonirrigated, and ability to report animal unit harvest (by pasture) calculated on an annual basis. This will provide quantifiable data regarding carrying capacity and subsequent beef production to provide more accurate data inputs for the beef sustainability lifecycle analysis, enhanced map synchronization, and improved security to allow a single individual to access multiple livestock operations without needing multiple user IDs and passwords.