What Range Condition Class Is Best For Me? In general, higher levels of range condition help ensure sustained ranch productivity by reducing soil erosion, slowing the invasion of undesirable plants into pastures, maximizing water use efficiency and providing a productive and stable plant base. Conversely, for many ranchers, management to obtain excellent condition rangeland may not be a practical goal. Range condition is an ecological measurement of potential range productivity without regard to grazing influences. The optimum range condition for profitable and sustainable livestock or wildlife grazing may differ significantly from the ecological definition of excellent condition rangeland. Optimum range condition may also differ depending on the type of livestock or wildlife enterprises used. For example, sustained cattle productivity is generally best achieved with good to excellent condition range. Sheep and goat production generally reaches optimum levels at a lower range condition class as compared to cattle (high-fair to good). White-tailed deer production is generally best on range in fair to good condition, while the optimum range condition for bobwhite quail will vary from poor to good condition, depending on location in the state (Figure 1). Even endangered wildlife species such as the golden cheeked warbler and the black capped vireo require different range conditions for ideal production. The optimum range condition for each range site on a ranch is determined by balancing ecological with enterprise/ranch economic needs. The best range condition is also that which is achievable. Factors such as past grazing use impact the level and rate of range condition improvement possible. If a pasture or ranch has been seriously overgrazed for a long period of time, soil loss from range sites within those pastures may restrict the maximum obtainable range condition to significantly less than excellent condition. It is common for undesirable woody plants to invade rangeland. Woody plants often limit the level and rate of range improvement possible. Expensive inputs such as herbicides or mechanical control may be required to achieve excellent range condition. Livestock and/or wildlife grazing may not be able to financially support these inputs. Finally, the determination of what vegetation mix constitutes excellent condition rangeland for a specific site is not without error. Potential or excellent condition for a specific site is usually determined through the evaluation of relict areas (areas with long-term protection from disturbance). How accurately these relict areas actually depict the potential for a particular site can be highly variable. In summary, a rancher should not be unduly concerned if excellent condition rangeland is not achieved. He should become concerned if he is unable to move above poor to fair condition rangeland or if range trend shows a steady decline in range condition from its present state. Low or declining range condition equates to a loss of future sustainable production. Authors: Allan McGinty, Larry D. White