Get reliable science

Stockmanship or low-stress livestock handling techniques developed by Bud Williams can be powerful tools in rangeland management. Proper stockmanship improves livestock producers' abilities to readily move livestock from one pasture to another and facilitates application of husbandry practices. More importantly, stockmanship can be used to manipulate livestock distribution and target grazing. On public lands, stubble height standards are used to minimize adverse impacts of livestock on riparian areas and fishery habitat. Herding cattle from riparian areas at midday can result in greater stubble heights of riparian graminoids compared to free roaming livestock controls. Placing low-moisture block (LMB) protein supplements can increase cattle fidelity to target areas when forage is dormant, but protein LMB is much less attractive when forages are actively growing and forage quality is high. The combination of stockmanship and strategic supplement placement can be used to focus cattle grazing in rugged terrain and/or areas far from water. Focused cattle grazing has the potential to improve forage quality and habitat for wild ungulates and help manage fine fuels and the risk of catastrophic wildfire. The efficacy of this practice is greatest when first applied. In the second year of a 2-yr study, cattle showed less fidelity to target areas than during the first year. However, cattle continued to use rugged terrain and areas far from water during the second year. Selection and use of adapted animals will likely work synergistically with stockmanship. Anecdotal observations suggest that cattle adapted for rugged terrain (hill climbers) readily respond to low stress handling techniques. Although labor intensive, low stress herding can be successfully used to manipulate livestock grazing distribution even when other management techniques may not be feasible.