Economic Feasibility of Mixed-Species Grazing to Improve Rangeland Productivity

SIMPLE SUMMARY: The encroachment of woody plants, including the eastern redcedar, in the central Great Plains is reaching critical levels. This encroachment impacts the profitability of cattle grazing operations, and potentially the ability to meet consumer demand for beef products due to lower stocking rates. Even though chemical and fire control are currently being used, the incorporation of small ruminants such as goats can help control the spread of woody plants, while providing an additional source of revenue and protein. In this analysis, we take a data driven approach to analyzing the potential for success utilizing different combination of chemicals, fire, breeding goats and stocker goats to control woody plant encroachment. Given our assumptions, the combination with the highest net present value was cattle, controlled burning and breeding goats. ABSTRACT: Pasture and grazing land in the southern and central Great Plains is being invaded by woody species, especially eastern redcedar. As a result of woody plant encroachment, cattle production on native rangeland is becoming less profitable because stocking rates must be decreased. Eastern redcedar encroachment can be controlled by grazing management, herbicide use, prescribed fire, mechanical control and mixed species grazing. This study utilizes traditional management practices, prescribed fire and three types of mixed species grazing operations to determine the most economically feasible way to manage redcedar encroachment on rangeland. The cost-benefit analysis in this study found that the source of redcedar management on rangeland with the highest net present value was the use of a breeding goat operation in which goats were grazed alongside cattle with the use of prescribed fire. This suggests that producers who are fighting redcedar encroachment will likely be able to implement a mixed species grazing operation with breeding goats to better manage their land and increase returns.