Livestock grazing as an integral component of sustained agroecosystems—a private lands perspective.

Privately owned grazing lands comprise 52% of all grazing lands in the United States. Livestock production is the primary economic source of income from these lands; however, improved management strategies can be implemented to not only sustain this agroecosystem, but enhance the natural resource to provide new and innovated ecosystem services and goods. To sustain this resource, grazing strategies should be designed to implement five basic principles: 1) provide diverse plant communities, 2) protect the soil surface, 3) eliminate overgrazing, 4) incorporate grazing management that enhances the forage harvest efficiency, and 5) create best managed ecosystems that accomplish reestablishment of historical disturbance regimes for a given region. By obtaining these principles, land owners will have the opportunity to create or enhance ecosystem services and goods that provide commodity, amenity, environmental and spiritual values essential to ranching life, the communities they live in, and the nation as a whole. Sustained ecosystems can provide food, fiber, biofuels, fish and wildlife habitat, water, improved air quality, ornamental resources, and ceremonial items to name a few. Livestock grazing is essential to sustain the ecosystems associated with rangeland, grassland and other perennial pastures. Ranchers and land managers should incorporate new grazing strategies to sustain the agroecosystem while developing potential enterprises to increase income through secondary goods and service. The ultimate goal is to provide a sustainable ecosystem that can be shared by future generations with a history that ties the land to the family and community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]