Optimum Stocking Rate, Monitoring, and Flexibility

• Published in: Rangelands Vol. 35; no. 5; pp. 22 - 27
• Main Authors: Alfonso Ortega-S, J., Lukefahr, Steven D., Bryant, Fred C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Inc 01-10-2013
• Subjects: flexible grazing; grazing management; monitoring; optimum stocking rate; ranch profitability; grazing management; optimum stocking rate; monitoring; ranch profitability; flexible grazing
• ISSN: 0190-0528; 1551-501X
• DOI: 10.2111/RANGELANDS-D-13-00021.1

•This case study demonstrates the importance of adaptive management to the resilience of a ranch.•With a combination of strategic livestock and grazing management, especially adjusting the stocking rate to variability in forage production, we were able to increase the grazing capacity and the profitability of the ranch, even during drought.•The major concern during the drought should not be the productivity or profitability of the ranch, but rather the integrity of the plant communities and the herd in order to re-establish the production cycle following the severe drought.•Managing flexible grazing management programs with proper monitoring of weather, forage standing crop, cattle condition, and markets to make informed and timely decisions largely determines the resilience and profitability of the operation.