Wednesday, October 3, 2007

Cattle Grazing

I think that there is no harm in allowing cows to graze in publicly owned land unless they are destroying flowers or ornamental plants. There is no harm in letting them graze in a field , it is healthier for the cows to move around freely and graze. As long as the livestock's owners maintain the area I think it is okay to let them graze their cows in publicly owned fields. Grazing is also beneficial for the growth of field. The fecal material and the urine also acts as fertilizers for the soil. While the trampling of the ground by cows help regulate air in soil and allows water to go into the soil easily as the soil get loosened.
I don't think that fees should be raised for private land leases because then the rancher might not prefer to graze the cows and just keep them in an artificial environment. They need a natural environment to grow properly. They are already injected with hormones and steroids and on top of that ranchers should not be discouraged of bringing their cows to graze in fields.
http://www.nativehabitat.org/grazing.html
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F0CEFD9163CF931A2575AC0A965958260

2 comments:

Miranda Conlin said...

I totally agree with you that cattle need a natural environment to graze in. But, it is now being done in such large numbers and for so cheaply that taxpayers are paying a very large price. I wish there was a practical solution. Great job on your post.

Trena Skellenger said...

I agree with grazing of livestock on publicly owned land, and yes, the livestock owners definately need to maintain the land and protect the biodiversity of the land. I also agree that the manure is good for the soil as long as it does not accumulate in excess. It is better for society to be able to buy grass fed beef and you are right about the fact that the cattle should not have to be kept in an artificial environment. I believe that private land lease fees are okay, but fees for grazing on public lands should not be charged because the land belongs to the American public and almost everyone is benefiting from the grazing of livestock on public lands. To me, the most important issue is the environmental impact on the land that is being used for grazing. There are many ways to balance the environmental issues and the use of the land. people and agencies just have to be willig to work together.