Systems Thinking in a Range Environment

Systems Thinking in a Range Environment

Summary

Cattle ranchers are increasingly pressured by environmentalists and new federal grazing regulations to change their ways. These producers hope to demonstrate a variety of more natural methods of managing range cattle, including a low stress weaning process that simply and quietly separates cows and calves for several days on opposite sides of a fence, comparison of four different land treatments of crested wheatgrass to improve diversity, controlling weeds and insects using animal impact and using cattle to spread seeds to reintroduce native species into designated areas. A collaborative planning and management team of interested local and state members has been formed to promote these ideas, and these organizers hope to faciliate more meetings of this important group.