As predator populations increase across the West, some ranchers are returning to more traditional ways of managing sheep and cattle. These often include keeping livestock in tight groups during the day and night with the help of herders, dogs and portable fencing. WRMES recently received a grant from the Warner College of Natural Resources Dean’s Fund for Transdisciplinary Approaches to Wicked Problems to begin exploring the impacts of these practices on animal welfare, native and non-native flora, and soil characteristics. The preliminary study partners with a sheep rancher in Oregon and a cattle rancher in Idaho who graze on public lands and have notable success in reducing depredation.
Categories
WRMES Studying Livestock Management Approaches that Reduce Depredation and Improve Animal Performance and Ecosystem Health
With predator populations on the rise, some ranchers are using traditional methods—herders, dogs, and portable fencing—to protect livestock. WRMES received a Dean’s Fund grant to study how these practices affect animal welfare, vegetation, and soil health. The project partners with ranchers in Oregon and Idaho who graze on public lands and have successfully reduced predation.
