Target Grazing Sheep for reduced fuel risk while maintaining condition of livestock and land

Commodities

• Agronomic: grass (misc. annual), grass (misc. perennial)
• Animals: sheep

Practices

• Animal Production: animal protection and health, grazing management
• Education and Training: demonstration

Target grazing services are
becoming a popular vegetation management tool on the west coast.
Land owners and land management agencies are contracting
livestock owners and grazers to reduce their seasonal fuel loads
with the use of livestock, primarily small ruminants. While the
opportunity to target grazes presents livestock owners with a
secondary source of income, it often poses a threat to the
condition of their animals. The primary reason for this
contradiction is the unrealistic expectation of land owners and
land management agencies around the necessary level of reduction
to address fire risk. This project intends to identify the
appropriate level of impact to reduce risk without compromising
the health of the environment or livestock. 

Impact and response of vegetation
and animal condition will be recorded through the entire process
and used to create an educational video highlighting the benefits
or consequences of each level of impact.

Determine what level of RDM post grazing for fuels reduction best
supports the environment, sheep and community needs. 

Provide collected data to landowners in an effort to educate on
the appropriate level of impact. 

Empower landowners to consider long term impact alongside their
seasonal fuel reduction goals.