Livestock management for coexistence with large carnivores, healthy land and productive ranches: a viewpoint
Date
2014-09
Authors
Barnes, Matt, speaker
Breck, Stewart, moderator
International Wildlife Ranching Symposium, producer
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Abstract
Livestock – large carnivore coexistence occurs within a broader context of social-ecological systems, specifically ranches and rural communities. Coexistence practitioners can be more effective by expanding from a direct focus on carnivores and predation-prevention tools to livestock management context. Ranchers can apply many of the same approaches that work for rangeland health and livestock production to reduce conflicts with large carnivores. The central anti-predator behavior of wild grazing animals is to form large, dense herds that then move around the landscape to seek fresh forage, avoid fouled areas, and escape predators. They also have their young in short, synchronized birthing seasons (predator satiation). Grazing management involving high stocking density and frequent movement, such as rotational grazing and herding with low-stress livestock handling, can improve rangeland health and livestock production, by managing the distribution of grazing across time, space, and plant species. Short calving seasons can increase livestock production and reduce labor inputs, especially when timed to coincide with peak availability of forage quality. Livestock management approaches based on anti-predator behaviors of wild ungulates, including grazing management and synchronized calving, may directly and synergistically reduce predation risk—while simultaneously establishing a management context in which other predation-prevention practices and tools can be used more effectively. Pilot projects on summer cattle range in the U.S. Northern Rockies involving increased stocking density through intensification of existing grazing rotations with herding suggest methods that can be used to improve grazing distribution and prevent depredations.
Description
Moderator: Stewart Breck.
Presented at the 8th international congress for wildlife and livelihoods on private and communal lands: livestock, tourism, and spirit, that was held on September 7-12, 2014 in Estes Park, Colorado.
Presented at the 8th international congress for wildlife and livelihoods on private and communal lands: livestock, tourism, and spirit, that was held on September 7-12, 2014 in Estes Park, Colorado.
Rights Access
Subject
Wildlife management -- Congresses
Range management -- Congresses