For producers and rangeland managers pursuing healthier rangelands and a profitable ranching operation, livestock can be one of the most valuable reclamation tools available. The impact livestock create on the land remains as important today as the influence once provided by large herds of ungulates, such as buffalo, elk, antelope, and deer, before humans became more dominant in the landscape. Recognizing that many degraded rangelands result from the loss of concentrated animal impact followed by adequate rest and recovery is essential to beginning the restoration process.

Controlled livestock use creates beneficial disturbance on rangeland, followed by planned rest and recovery before animals return to the area. This approach has proven effective for improving land health while supporting the rancher’s economic viability. Without making grazing management a consistent foundation before applying other reclamation practices, the cycle of degradation is unlikely to be broken without repeated use of costly tools such as brush management, seeding, and erosion-control measures. These tools may still be needed to accelerate improvement, but sound grazing management is what makes long-term reclamation effective.

The Better it Gets, The Faster it Gets Better

Eastern Gama 24 days after grazing. Take note of the Johnson Grass at bottom of picture it was grazed less than the EG and still is much smaller than the regrown EG.