An Economic Analysis of Optimum Rates of Grazing in the California Annual-type Grassland
Citation
Hooper, J. F., & Heady, H. F. (1970). An economic analysis of optimum rates of grazing in the California annual-type grassland. Journal of Range Management, 23(5), 307-311.Publisher
Society for Range ManagementJournal
Journal of Range ManagementDOI
10.2307/3896155Additional Links
https://rangelands.org/Abstract
In the early days of the west, marketing practices, low costs associated with grazing and lack of knowledge about range management led to heavy and sometimes destructive utilization of range vegetation. As the field of range science developed, control of grazing to achieve "moderate" utilization became an important management tool. However, too little attention has been given to the economics of "moderate use" recommendations. This study indicates the optimum rate of utilization on a Sutherlin soil in the annual-type grassland of California leaves approximately 500 lb./acre of plant residue. Examination of opportunity costs indicates the economic loss from heavy grazing is several times that of light use. Thus, range managers who recommend "moderate" or even "light" grazing are in effect advocating a small loss (opportunity cost of light grazing) as insurance against a larger loss (opportunity cost of heavy grazing).Type
textArticle
Language
enISSN
0022-409Xae974a485f413a2113503eed53cd6c53
10.2307/3896155