Cattle - Pitchstone Waters (Page 8)

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Cattle

A collection of 270 posts

Mountain Lions of Far-West Texas

"Invasion Biology"

Mountain Lions of Far-West Texas

Much of what we used to ‘know’ about mountain lions turns out to be wrong, starting with the belief they are a threat to livestock or humans. Lions – and all other predators – are necessary to the health of wildlife and habitat. Note: This amazing video was produced by Yeti in

the_agriculture_of_hope

"Invasion Biology"

The Agriculture Of Hope: Climate Farmers Of North America

We can debate whether human impact contributes to climate change, but we cannot deny that human agricultural practices harm range and farm lands. These practices can be changed in ways that will restore the land, its profitability and conceivably, help the climate as well. NOTE: This post initially appeared on

How and Why Holistic Planned Grazing Can Restore Habitat and Ranch Income

"Invasion Biology"

How and Why Holistic Planned Grazing Can Restore Habitat and Ranch Income

This paper, authored by Texas A&M range scientist Richard Teague and colleague Matt Barnes, discusses what has worked best for planned graziers across the world, and why conventional range studies have been unable to analyze their results. The paper was published in the African Journal of Range &

free_range_cattle

"Invasion Biology"

Holistic Planned Grazing on Rangelands: Why the Gap Between Researcher Beliefs and Rancher Experience?

In this paper published in the Journal of Environmental Management, Texas A&M range scientists and their colleagues discuss why—70 years after the development of holistic planned grazing, and notwithstanding the positive experience reported by so many producers who use it—academicians and researchers remain closed to its

soil_restoration_west_texas

Increasing Soil Carbon Helps Restore Wildlife and Habitat

The best and most restorative wildlife practices are those which increase soil fertility. If every wildlife decision were evaluated according to this outcome, wildlife & habitat ‘management’ would fundamentally change. Soil Solutions to Climate Problems – Narrated by Michael Pollan from Center for Food Safety on Vimeo.

deer_west_texas

"Invasion Biology"

Planned Grazing and Deer

“Properly grazed cattle can improve deer health. Cattle herds can replace the big nomadic grazers with which animals and plants evolved. Plants and animals are symbiotic: Plants need animals as much as animals need plants. What helps plants helps all animals. Biodiversity of plants and animals is good. Multiple species

Circle Ranch Wildlife Cameras - Summer 2017

"Invasion Biology"

Circle Ranch Wildlife Cameras - Summer 2017

Every month we review 5,000 pictures and post a few of the most interesting. What is pictured here is biodiversity. Multiple species are complimentary – not competitive. Ranges need keystone grazers like bison or cattle, lots of predators and lots of prey species. Without all these, the systems come apart.

Ranches for Free: Birdwell Creek - Planned Grazing

"Invasion Biology"

Ranches for Free: Birdwell Creek - Planned Grazing

Here is a Texas example of high density planned grazing, which means the owners greatly increased cattle numbers and animal density, improving habitat and forage production. The increase in productivity per acre is like getting a ranch (or two) for free. These results directly contradict the agency-university biases against cattle

Trump Picks Susan Combs For Interior Post

Trump Picks Susan Combs For Interior Post

A terrific choice for America, for Texas, and, for Western ranchers, wildlife & habitat. NOTE: This article initially appeared on SAExpressNews.com on July 11, 2017 WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump announced his intention to nominate former Texas Agriculture Commissioner and Comptroller Susan Combs to be assistant secretary of policy management

iowa_state_fair_cow_kid_nap

"Invasion Biology"

Iowa State Fair Cow and Boy Taking Nap Wins the Internet After Photo Goes Viral

This touching photo evokes the ancient connection between humans and livestock. Sadly, modern industrial agriculture – including much dairy and meat production – breaks this connection and increasingly disregards humane animal husbandry. NOTE: This post originally appeared on FOXNews.com on August 14, 2017 This here is a little story about a

"Invasion Biology"

Allan Savory: How to Green the World's Deserts and Reverse Climate Change

Desertification is a fancy word for land that is turning to desert,” begins Allan Savory in this quietly powerful talk (now viewed by 4-million). And terrifyingly, it’s happening to about two-thirds of the world’s grasslands, accelerating climate change and causing traditional grazing societies to descend into social chaos.

tangleweed_west_texas

"Invasion Biology"

Tanglehead in South Texas - Changes and Challenges

The so-called “invasion” of Tanglehead grass is a symptom of cattle removals on South Texas rangeland. This excellent article contains insights and facts that point to this. The facts: * Tanglehead is a native grass. * Tanglehead was not ‘invasive’ so long as the ranges were being grazed. * With reduced grazing, it

circle_ranch_west_texas_cattle_feature

Killing Cattle a Felony Under Texas Livestock Bill Awaiting Abbott’s Signature

A very good law to defend stray livestock, including bison. NOTE: This post initially appeared on SAExpressNews.com on June 2, 2017 Careless hunters or trigger-happy gunslingers who kill Texas livestock …would no longer get a slap on the wrist under legislation awaiting Gov. Greg Abbott’s signature that would

animal_crossing_highway_montana

Wildlife Crossings Get a Whole New Look

These structures can satisfy wildlife’s need to move across our Western ranges. They can also facilitate grazing. Both are needed for habitat restoration and wildlife conservation. NOTE: This post initially appeared on WSJ.com on June 20, 2017. Feature photo by Jeff Burrell/Wildlife Conservation Society Why did the

Circle Ranch - Mule Deer

"Invasion Biology"

TPWD Mule Deer Habitat Advice

I was surprised to learn at a TPWD mule deer seminar that the way we graze cattle at Circle Ranch harms plants and water function. So I read all the studies on which these conclusions were based and found they did not study what they claimed to study. I wrote

goats_prospect_park

"Invasion Biology"

New York Today: Prospect Park Goes to the Goats

Even the folks in New York City have figured out that animal impact – in this case ‘exotic’ goats – can better maintain open space than machinery or chemicals. This insight puts them ahead of Texas’ mainstream wildlife ‘managers’. NOTE: This post initially appeared on NYTimes.com on May, 2016 To help

Eco Profits - Whose Money Harms The Environment?

Eco Profits - Whose Money Harms The Environment?

Author Dan Dagger says in part, “Environmental corporatism is guilty of the same offense of which it has made a career of accusing capitalism, the free market, and private enterprise: Getting rich at the expense of the environment. And its consumers are just as blind to the damage they cause

On The Iberico Trail

"Invasion Biology"

On The Iberico Trail

In Spain, free-ranging pigs which forage for themselves and fatten on seasonal acorns produce hams that can bring $2,000 apiece. In Texas, free-ranging pigs which forage for themselves and fatten on seasonal acorns are considered unfit to eat. Why the difference? Anticompetetive regulations which favor Big Pork, and bureaucratic

Animal Development

Bison: At Home, On the Range

Raising bison commercially on open ranges. NOTE: This post initially appeared on ModernFarmer.com on September 12, 2016 In 1994, when Mary and Lee Graese bought their first two bison, beef was what’s for dinner, as Robert Mitchum’s voice intoned on the omnipresent television ads. We’re talking

cattle_circle_ranch

Princeton University: Wildlife and Cows Can Be Partners Not Competitors in Food Search

Cattle and horses closely resemble native animals that would be the dominant large grazers in North America, but for human impact. Horses – these include donkeys or burros – and their ancestors were in our deserts for 50 million years. They disappeared 5,000 years ago and have been back for 500

Slideshow: Circle Ranch Wildlife, December 2016

"Invasion Biology"

Slideshow: Circle Ranch Wildlife, December 2016

There is not a federal or state park in far-West Texas where one can see free ranging elk, sheep, pronghorn and mule deer together. These animals and many others are found in abundance at Circle Ranch, because of our (1) water system, (2) periodic planned cattle grazing, (3) protection of

alberta_peter_bucyk

"Invasion Biology"

Building Soil Fertility by Peter Byck

Physiologically there is no difference between public land and private land. What hurts or benefits one has the same effect on the other. Wildlife managers, whether we work on public or private land, must adopt restoration ecology if we hope to reverse the desertification of American Southwest’s grasslands. This

bayer_cattlemen_pdf

"Invasion Biology"

A Poison for Every Plant

Texas and Southwest Cattle Raisers Association is an outstanding organization. Annually, TSCRA circulates to its members a calendar like this one, compliments of Bayer-Monsanto Chemical. The fact that this leading, respected cattle organization is promoting the ubiquitous use of rangeland pesticides demonstrates the extent to which ranchers, farmers and wildlife

circle_ranch_screwworm

Screwworm Returns To The United States

The screwworm eradication program—a triumph of animal health science—came with unintended consequences. When the flesh-eating pest was eradicated and big predators were removed, deer numbers exploded. Now more than ever we need to protect deer predators for the health of the deer herds and their habitat, which cattle

National Bison Day 2016

"Invasion Biology"

National Bison Day 2016

To be healthy, desert ranges need three things: (1) Large, concentrated migratory bison herds, or cattle grazed in a manner that mimics bison’s migratory patterns; (2) a lot of predators of all sizes; and, (3) a high, diverse population of prey species. Remove any of these and the system