The following is a list of twelve basic requirements for establishing a sustainable ranching enterprise in Texas and other range states and regions:

1. Necessary input in rangeland -- either desert, prairie, savanna, or forest type
   
   

   Comment - The equivalent of approximately 10 to 15 acres of mid-grass rangeland in good to excellent ecological condition is required to maintain one animal unit on a year-round, permanent basis. More acres are required when the rangeland is either desert shrub or short-grass prairie, and when range conditions are poor to fair. Fewer acres are required when the rangeland is tall-grass prairie.

2. Necessary input in foundation breeding stock for operating a closed breeding program
   
   

   Comments:

   1. A minimum of approximately 500 head of mature breeding stock is required to operate a genetically viable closed breeding program.
      
      
   2. Most suitable type breeding stock for a low-input range operation are small to medium size animals that are heavy muscled and have low to medium milking ability.
      
      
3. Necessary input in outside fencing
   
   

   Comment - There are three main reasons for having good outside fencing:

   1. Preventing loss of cattle due to drifting
      
      
   2. Preventing exposing the herd to disease
      
      
   3. Preventing waste of valuable pasture as well as valuable semen from superior bulls on another rancher's cattle.
      
      
4. Necessary input in cross-fencing
   
   

   Comments

   1. The required amount of cross-fencing is determined by the ranch's rotational grazing plan requirements, size of pastures, number of contemporary herd groups, and topographical nature of the land.
      
      
   2. The purpose for cross-fencing is controlling the day-to-day grazing of each animal in the rancher's herd and keeping contemporary herd groups separated for breeding, nutrition, and evaluation purposes.
      
      
   3. The only time a substantial input in cross-fencing is not required is when sufficient numbers of specially trained cowboys on horseback are used to control the day-to-day grazing of the rancher's cattle.
      
      
   4. It's important to note that when cowboys are not used to manage the grazing of the rancher's cattle, bottom-land areas with deep soil and up-land areas with shallow soil must be kept separated by cross-fencing.
      
      
5. Necessary input in personnel (managers, cowboys, cooks, etc.) to handle the day-to-day operation of the ranch
   
   
6. Necessary input in living necessities -- i.e., housing, energy, food, water, etc. -- for ranch owners, employees, and their families
   
   
7. Necessary input in livestock water and watering points in each pasture and holding pen
   
   
8. Necessary input in horses, saddles, and tack for doing daily cowboy work
   
   
9. Necessary input in pens and equipment for holding, separating, working, palpating, weighing, and loading cattle
   
   
10. Necessary input in tools, equipment, and supplies for implementing herd health practices
    
    
11. Necessary input in tools, equipment, and supplies for managing herd nutrition
    
    
12. Necessary input in tools, equipment, and supplies for accomplishing the following important work:
    
    
    1. plowing and maintaining fire lanes
       
       
    2. conducting prescribed burns
       
       
    3. building and maintaining barns, fences, corrals, loading chutes, cattle scales, feed troughs, roads, dams, bridges, gates, and other ranch infrastructure
       
       
    4. managing weeds and brush in fence lines and pastures.
       
       

Closing comment - It should be noted that assimilating the required input for establishing and operating a sustainable ranch can be accomplished either on an one large-size operation (independent) basis, or on a many small-size operations (cooperative) basis.

Back to TRC's management tools