How Do I Improve Range Condition? The single most important factor impacting range improvement is livestock stocking rate. Animal numbers must be balanced with forage supplies if range condition is to be maintained or improved. No grazing system or range improvement practice negates this principle. To obtain range condition improvement, any increases in forage production must precede increases in stocking rate, not visa versa. Periodic rest from grazing is also important if range condition is to improve. This rest should be staggered at different times of the year to allow all forage species some relief from grazing pressure. To provide this periodic rest there are many grazing systems, ranging from low intensity, two pasture-one herd switchbacks to high intensity, multiple pasture-one herd short duration grazing systems. Some grazing systems will favor range improvement over individual animal performance. Others favor the opposite. In many instances the grazing system used to obtain range improvement will not be the system used to maintain the achieved level of range condition. The species of livestock grazed (cattle, sheep or goats) also impact range improvement. Different livestock species select for different types of plants (grass, forbs or browse). To ensure optimum utilization of the total forage base, multiple species of livestock can be grazed together. The selective grazing behavior of livestock can also be used to manipulate vegetation. For example, goat numbers can be increased in relation to other species of livestock if a ranch manager wishes to favor the herbaceous component of a pasture over the woody. There may be instances when further improvement in range condition through grazing management (proper stocking rate, species of animal grazed and pasture rest) is too slow or not possible, due to the presence of undesirable woody plants. In these cases it may be necessary to apply control methods to accelerate range improvement. Control methods may be herbicides, fire, mechanical, biological (i.e., goating) or any combination of methods. Such methods, while capable of greatly accelerating range improvement often require substantial financial investment. How Fast Does Range Condition Change? Two factors greatly influence the rate at which range condition changes. The first is average annual rainfall received. In the more humid areas of the state (30 to 40 inches/year) range condition may improve from fair to good condition in 2 to 3 years with proper grazing management. In arid west Texas, with an average annual rainfall of 10 inches, that same increase may take 5 to 10 years. Rate of change is also influenced by the present stage of range condition. Range in extremely poor condition will generally exhibit very slow improvement. This sluggish improvement may be due to woody plant invasion, a lack of seed source of desirable plants, poor soil hydrologic conditions or soil loss. As range condition moves from poor, to fair, then good condition, the rate of improvement can be expected to increase. Improved soil hydrologic condition, and a greater seed source and vigor of desirable plants are causative factors. As rangeland approaches excellent condition, the rate of improvement can be expected to decrease. In general, excellent condition range (especially mid- to high-excellent condition) may be difficult to maintain with grazing animals. In fact, if rangeland has suffered soil loss due to previous overuse, it may be impossible to ever reach excellent condition. Conversely, range condition will decline at a greater rate when poor management is applied to higher range condition classes. But as range condition declines toward poor condition, the grazing animal will have less and less impact on the vegetation base due to the toxicity and unpalatability of existing plants. Authors: Allan McGinty, Larry D. White