Cows? In California? Rangelands and Livestock in the Golden State

Abstract

On the Ground • Most of the livestock forage in California is produced in the Mediterranean climate zone, despite a long summer dry period. • There are also cold desert steppe and warm desert zones, and montane range, and both fall- and spring-calving cattle herds. • Leased land, public land, irrigated pasture, supplements, by-products, and feeds round out the annual forage calendar. • The Mediterranean zone has been termed a “critically endangered eco-region” and a “global biodiversity hot spot.” • Grazing benefits some of our rarest rangeland species and finest landscapes, and diverse interest groups are cooperating to support ranching.