Cattle

A collection of 272 posts

"Invasion Biology"

Climate and Big Beef

“San Antonio entrepreneur and rancher Lew Moorman calls BS on fake beef.   NOTE: this article was originally published to Substack by Lew Moorman on January 15, 2023.   There is likely no bigger boogeyman of the climate battle than beef. Almost every news outlet consistently shames meat eaters as they prop

"Invasion Biology"

Controlling Weeds in Idaho

A Forb is a herbaceous, flowering plant other than grass. Unwanted forbs are generally dubbed “weeds.” Herbicides used for “weed” control almost always harm habitat and wildlife. On Pitchstone Waters, we manage our weeds unconventionally—to the benefit of the range and the animals that call it home.     Goats Clearing

Animal Growth

Why This Cattle Farmer Moves His Cows Every Day

Methane emissions from cattle contribute to climate change – but Will Harris says he has a solution. NOTE: this video was originally published to BBC.com on December 10, 2019. Video filmed and edited by Hannah Long-Higgins; produced by Haley Thomas. We initially posted this to our site on April 6,

Bison

New Research Documents Domestic Cattle DNA In Modern Bison Herds

As reported below, Texas A&M says there is no such thing as genetically-pure North American bison, including Yellowstone Park’s.   While good to know, this discovery shouldn’t change bison restoration efforts. There’s nothing new in genetic “drift”, because after 150-years of restoration releases using long distance

Biodiversity

Stewardship with Vision – Episode 2: Malpai Borderlands Group

In the high desert of southern Arizona and New Mexico, almost a million acres of important habitats and nearly 30 at-risk species are being protected and conserved…by a coalition of ranchers who manage from “The Radical Center”… – The Malpai Borderlands Group   NOTE: this post was originally published to this

Bio-Diversity

Rotational Cattle Grazing to Restore Degraded Chihuahuan Desert Grasslands and Promote Watershed Health

Describing the Mimms Ranch in Marfa, Texas, the authors write, “The Foundation aims for practical conservation, with the belief that restored grasslands improve overall watershed health, resources for native wildlife, and continued support of ranching.”   NOTE: this article was originally published to usbr.maps.arcgis.com.  As well – it was

Bio-Diversity

My Wild Land: Bischoff Ranch - Trailer

My Wild Land: BISCHOFF RANCH – Trailer from Wyoming Migration Initiative on Vimeo.   “Keeping a ranch afloat in a volatile market is a story that hits too close to home for Tyrell Bischoff. After a number of rough winters and low cattle prices, Tyrell’s family faced a formidable reality: sell

Biodiversity

Lose Grazing Animals, Gain Wildfires

“As discussed below, well-managed domestic cattle, bison, other livestock and grazing animals can restore ecosystems and biodiversity, upcycle grasses humans can’t eat into bioavailable nutrition, reduce wildfire risk, and help us create a better planet for our future.   NOTE: this article was originally published to Weekly.Regeneration.Works on

Bison

Where the Buffalo Roam, Endangered Prairies Thrive

“As discussed in the article below, when bison were allowed to graze through patches of tallgrass prairie, they boosted native plant species richness by a whopping 86 percent.   Cattle and other domestics animals –  when they are grazed in ways planned to mimic native bison herds – do the same thing.   NOTE:

Animals

Researchers Designing Rugged Virtual Fence Tech for Animal Management

As discussed below, a ‘virtual’ fence system for livestock is under development at the University of Idaho.   Several “virtual fence” systems have been designed through the years. They have mostly failed.   If successful such a system would transform planned grazing of domestic animals on public rangelands and forests. It might

Bio-Diversity

Farm Animals May Soon Get New Features Through Gene Editing

Hybridization of plants and animals is as old as agriculture. However, most GMOs have made plants more tolerant to herbicides, and thus are essentially drivers for the agrochemical companies that sell both the seeds and poisons.   NOTE: this article was originally published to APNews.com on November 15, 2018. It

Bio-Diversity

Pitchstone Waters Roads #1

Eco-friendly forest thinning and road building next to Yellowstone Park, in Idaho. NOTE: this post was originally published to this site on June 5, 2019.

"Invasion Biology"

150 Goats to ‘Mow’ 7 Acres of Brackenridge Park

Goats are excellent at brush-clearing, as shown in the article below about Brackenridge Park in San Antonio.   Many so-called “exotic”, “non-native”, and “invasive” species are also useful in maintaining and improving habitat. These include wild horses and burros, cattle, sheep, pigs, elk (these are classified non-native in Texas), mountain goats,

Bison

New Texas A&M Research Documents Domestic Cattle Genetics in Modern Bison Herd

“Cattle and bison readily crossbreed. It was ranchers who saved bison in the late 1800’s, but they ran these bison alongside their domestic cattle herds.   New research from Texas A&M says that all bison, including the Yellowstone herds thought to be “pure,” are cattle hybrids. As explained

Bio-Diversity

Church-Affiliated Ranch Balances Agriculture and Conservation in Central Florida

Deseret Cattle and Citrus, owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, has been going strong for 65 years. This commercial farming and ranching operation is situated on about 295,000 acres in parts of three Florida counties between Orlando and Melbourne.

"Invasion Biology"

Securing a Future for Wolves in the West

Another excellent article by the Property and Environmental Research Center (PERC) the free market conservation think tank based in Bozeman.   This one is about how to address people and livelihoods while achieving the essential ecological need to return wolves across the West. NOTE: this article was originally published to PERC.

Bio-Diversity

Yellowstone Starts Bison Cull as Animals Migrate to Montana

As reported below, Yellowstone’s migrating bison are once again being killed because they carry brucellosis.   Yellowstone’s bison would not be a threat to domestic livestock if: 1) all bison were vaccinated against brucellosis and 2) all cattle with whom they might share winter ranges were vaccinated against brucellosis.

"Invasion Biology"

It Began as a Tool to Save Wild Elk. A Century Later, Feeding Threatens Iconic Herds

Here is a Washington Post article on the CWD threat from elk feeding. The paper says CWD was “identified” 50-years ago. The ‘rest of the story’ is that the  “identification” occurred in a Colorado state experimental station in Ft. Collins: It’s like saying that the corona virus was “identified”

Bison

He Spent Decades Protecting Buffalo. A Microscopic Invader Threatens That Work

According the article below, Mycoplasma bovis, which is common in cattle but rarely lethal for that animal, is a rapidly an emerging killer of buffalo. Outbreaks are spiking in some herds, with mortalities of 40-50%.   The New York Times blames the disease on global warming. But the medical literature says

Bio-Diversity

Herd Impact

Husband and wife ranchers Emry Birdwell and Deborah Clark have been going against the grain of North Texas ranching for decades – hiding their ability to raise many, many more cattle per acre than any of their neighbors. They are a fiery couple, prone to snips as they get their field

"Wolves"

Judge Restores Protections for Gray Wolves Across Much of US

“This was inevitable once Montana, Wyoming and Idaho resumed their 150-year long war on wolves.   NOTE: this article was originally published to APNews.com on February 10, 2022. It was written by Matthew Brown and John Flesher.   BILLINGS, Mont (AP) — A judge restored federal protections for gray wolves across much

Cattle

‘Oh, I’ll Keep ‘em Out’

Quoting the article below, “Buying a house in cattle country and complaining about cattle is like buying a house in a nudist colony and complaining that people don’t wear clothes.”     NOTE: this article was originally published to PERC.com’s Winter 2021 Newsletter (Volume 40). It was written by

"Invasion Biology"

The Once-Extinct Aurochs May Soon Roam Europe Again

According to the article below, restoring large wild grazers like bison and aurochs (wild giant cattle) will enhance the health of European forests.   Quoting the authors, “By disrupting forest growth, these mammals created varied terrain, all the while fertilizing the ground and distributing seeds with their droppings. The natural disturbance

"Invasion Biology"

The Real-World Conflicts in Yellowstone Can Be Solved by Markets, Not Drama

“Founded in 1980 by a handful of outdoor-oriented economists in Bozeman, Montana, PERC—the Property and Environment Research Center—is a conservation and research institute dedicated to free market environmentalism   NOTE: this PERC article was originally published to Reason.com on January 22, 2022. It was written by Shawn Regan

Cattle

The Magic of Cow Manure

Animal wastes from confinement feed operations, trapped in giant lagoons, are an environmental disaster. The putrid lagoons and manure piles are rightly criticized for pollution and increasing atmospheric methane. They also poison groundwater and streams and are often so fetid they make areas downwind uninhabitable.   The dung and urine of