Short-duration grazing: Experiences from the Edwards Plateau region in Texas

Y the turn of the century, the Edwards Plateau region of Texas had developed into a major livestock area (27). Continuous, heavy grazing by domestic livestock and the prevention of natural fires since that time have significantly changed the vegetative complex (15, 16). Long-term, excessive removal of vegetation on the plateau by grazing animals reduced the protective herbaceous cover, broke down soil aggregates, reduced infiltration rates, increased erosion, and accelerated the ingress of undesireable brush. Today, the range resource manager is faced with deteriorated rangeland, poisonous plants, predators, mimal health problems, brush infestation, variable precipitation patterns, escalating operating costs, an unstable economy, and erratic markets . Ranchers must respond effectively to these biological, physical, and economic factors if they are to make a profit from year to year.