A look at the cattle connection: How ranching benefits the ecosystem

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“The public doesn’t always realize what ranchers are doing and how that benefits everyone,” says Bill Tietje, a natural resources specialist based in San Louis Obispo County. “No one really thinks about it…” he continues, “until it’s gone.”

Unknown to many, ranchers like Charles Crispin contribute more to the world than their clichéd livestock-churning fill. According to scientists, rangelands maintained by ranchers provide the following benefits to the ecosystem:

• Rangelands play a crucial role in water cycling. In California, 80 percent of the water flows through the rangeland.

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• Studies show that rangelands managed by ranchers result to greater biodiversity. The diversity of plants and animals is found to be greater on grazed grasslands compared to unmanaged grasslands.

• Wild raptors hibernate on rangelands managed for beef cattle.

• Rangelands provide habitat to insects which are important in the process of cross-pollination. This results to a more robust and a more diverse "gene pool," enabling a particular species to be more adaptable to various environmental changes.

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• Having cattle graze rangelands can greatly reduce the amount of dry grass that could serve as fuel to a wildfire.

• Managed rangelands are more efficacious in sequestering carbon molecules which may be wedged in soil particles.

Ranching is more than a business, and even more than a way of life—it is also one of the many ways by which man can help the ecosystem remain sustainable for the years to come.

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The logistical considerations in buying a ranch

As with most investors, ranchers also devote an ample amount of time reviewing the logistics in buying a ranch. By not plunging aimlessly into the ranch market, any chances of possible loss are greatly mitigated.

The following are the things that an aspiring rancher must take into consideration before finalizing the acquisition of a ranching property:

1. Accessibility. Is the place just within reach or does one have to pass through a rough terrain just to be able to enter the boundary? The ease of ingress and egress to the land is also essential as it is a main determinant of a property’s salability. If the property is out of the way, then creating access may become an additional financial burden to the rancher.

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2. Water access. It is an accepted fact: Ranches and farms greatly depend on water. Livestock, crops, and wildlife need a substantial amount of water to thrive; thus, an ideal property is one that at least has a creek or a river running through or adjacent to it to ascertain a year-round and reliable water supply.

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3. Land type. The rancher should first determine his purpose before starting to study this aspect. Different purposes require different land types. For example, if a rancher is interested in possibly raising wildlife for hunting purposes, then he should consider a property that resembles wildlife’s natural habitat with natural vegetation.

4. Land cost per acre. Because real estate prices fluctuate depending on market conditions, an aspiring rancher should consult professional help in timing the purchase. Real estate properties which are bought in time of overvaluation may be poised for correction, resulting to an inequitable loss.

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Charles Crispin is the owner of Hammock Walk Ranch in Florida. Learn more about ranching by visiting this Facebook page.