COWS, PLOWS, AND WILDLIFE

A balancing act for Texas landowners

by Kasey Mock, Plateau Business Development Coordinator

As I visit with landowners across Texas, there is a common theme that eventually surfaces as we discuss the ins and outs of wildlife management. The question of whether or not landowners, particularly new landowners, should allow cattle to graze their property is an issue that I often struggle with myself, and I have yet to find a consistent answer applicable to landowners as a whole. My usual response is to first give careful consideration to the condition of the property, and secondly to take into account the landowner's goals.

It might help to think back to the Spanish conquistadors who came upon this piece of heaven we now call the state of Texas. These early settlers made notes of scattered trees and grasses as tall as the stirrups of their saddles. Then came the Anglo cowboys who took advantage of the seemingly endless supply of grass and stocked large numbers of Mexican cattle, soon followed by sheeps and goats, to satisfy an increasing demand from the east. Although the landscape changed and the once abundant native grasses fell victim to overuse, the demand for food and fiber continued to grow as producers struggled to get more out of the land. Improved exotic grasses such as Tifton Bermuda Grass and King Ranch Bluestem were introduced as the substitute for natives, offering higher yields and an increased carrying capacity. While these production goals were met, the indigenous Texas wildlife paid a heavy price. It was this strain upon producers facing an ever increasing demand for food and fiber, coupled with land fragmentation and property values driven by the non-traditional rural land buyer, that eventually led to the special valuation on open-space agricultural and wildlife lands in our Texas Constitution.

While today's rural landowners in wildlife have the ability to actively manage their property without the use of the cow and the plow to maintain a favorable property tax valuation, being in wildlife does not mean letting the land go wild. The need for ongoing management persists as land that is left alone can be quickly overtaken by invasive species, ultimately unusable to critters and problematic for humans. In his 1933 textbook Game Management, Aldo Leopold wrote "game can be restored by the creative use of the same tools which have heretofore destroyed it -- ax, plow, cow, fire, and gun." Considered the father of wildlife management, Leopold understood the need for diversity, both of habitat and the approach to management. He also recognized that with proper application, the cow and plow can serve as an asset to the wildlife cautious property manager.

A couple of weeks ago I had the privilege of visiting with a client in Lavaca County who made the switch from ag to wildlife in 2008. By removing cattle and allowing his property to rest for multiple growing seasons, he has seen an incredible recruitment of native grasses and the benefits being reaped by quail, turkey, deer, and other wildlife species. Though this may seem a final success story, that isn't why we met at his 70 acre property. The rebound of native grasses has also created the perfect scenario for a beneficial rotational grazing program. By evaluating the available forage load we were able to make proper stocking rate suggestions. Today he is preparing to re-stock for a spring "flash graze." This is a prime example of a property owner taking advantage of the increased options available through wildlife management.

The rebound of native grasses may create the perfect scenario for a beneficial rotational grazing program.

Routinely grazing a property will continue to promote overall plant diversity while contributing beneficial bacteria and aeration to the soil. As we evaluated his property, I continued to reaffirm the importance of monitoring forage levels and the benefits of a rotational grazing program. I was reminded of a phrase my father-in-law, a life-long rancher, shared with me. He explained to me that he uses cattle to regulate grass, rather than grass to grow beef. A successful land steward is in the grass business, not the cattle business.

For years the State of Texas, through the Cooperative Extension Service, taught landowners how to cultivate scientifically improved grasses which require large amounts of fertilizer and herbicide. Fortunately, these producers recognized the lack of sustainability and long term effects of exotics. Realizing this, Dr. Larry Redmond with Texas AgriLife Extension is focusing efforts toward a state wide campaign to educate landowners on the importance of re-establishing Texas native grasses. A mosaic of shrubs and native grasses creates ideal habitat for bobwhite quail and other ground nesting birds, while reducing input costs and the environmental impact of the cattle producer.

As a former 4-H member and director for Hays County Farm Bureau board, I am a lifelong advocate for Texas Agriculture. With agriculture being the leading job creator in Texas, and the world dependence on a steady supply of food and fiber, where would we end up if every acre of Texas was taken out of production? The answer is simple: naked and hungry. That being said, I am reminded of a quote by Theodore Roosevelt during his 1912 Confession of Faith Speech, "There can be no greater issue than that of conservation in this country." I suspect that the former President, along with Mr. Leopold, would have shared similar views of conservation and habitat management.

So, should farming and ranching be left to the farmers and ranchers, or should wildlife management property owners include grazing in their activities? In a nutshell, it just depends. The only absolute for a landowner is to always approach the answer with reverence for stewardship and careful consideration of the condition of the property and landowner goals.

I wish you a prosperous and wild 2011!