#Cattle range management how to#

However, it is not until the human population experiences water shortages that affect quality of life and the demand of products (socioeconomic drought) that society and government begin to understand the impacts of drought. Meteorological droughts are often defined as periods where moisture supply falls below a climatically set threshold, whereas an agricultural drought may be defined as a period of inadequate soil moisture for the needs of crops or growing native grass. For more on this topic, see NMSU Extension Guide B-825, Defining Drought on New Mexico Rangelands ( ). There are many approaches to defining drought, none of which satisfy all situations.

#Cattle range management how to#

Therefore, this publication will focus on developing a better understanding of the impacts of drought on native rangelands and cattle performance, and how to manage rangelands and cattle during and between droughts in arid regions. Many ranch managers find themselves worrying more about the weather than about implementing a grazing management plan that will focus on maintaining sustainable grazing resources during both normal and dry conditions. Grass supply is influenced by the timing and amount of precipitation during the growing season and the grazing management implemented by the ranch manager.

One of the largest management challenges faced on a ranch in arid regions is balancing between grass supply and demand.

Managing Rangelands and Cattle in Drought-prone Areas of the SouthwestĬollege of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences, New Mexico State UniversityĪuthor: Extension Range Specialist, Department of Extension Animal Sciences and Natural Resources, New Mexico State University.