American West Cattle Issues

Government Regulation

• The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) manages public livestock grazing on 157 million acres of the 253 million acres it administers. The bureau's goal is to maintain public land health using standards such as adequate canopy cover and ground cover. To maintain its standards, each area of land sees periodic rest periods from grazing, according to the BLM website. Ranchers in 16 western states are required to buy a permit to graze their livestock on public lands, including land managed by the National Park Service (NPS) and the BLM.

  According to Cattle Grazing on Public Lands, many private landowners believe that the government owns too much land. More than half of the land in western states is owned by the federal government. Because westerners have not historically been used to being told when and where they can graze their cattle, there is a conflict between some people from this sector and the federal government.

Environmental Impact

• There is a clash between some ranchers in the American West and environmental groups who are against cattle grazing. According to Earthjustice, cattle grazing contributes to the overgrazing of grasses and other plants, erosion and destruction of rangeland soils, degradation of water quality, and competition with wildlife for food and space. For example, the group says that domestic cattle threaten bison, bighorn sheep, deer, antelope and elk. However, Environmental Stewardship, an organization aimed at educating ranchers and farmers about environmental issues, contends that cattle grazing has positive effects if managed. The group says proper management techniques can minimize the invasion of non-native species, reduce risk of wildfire and improve wildlife species survival when livestock and wildlife management practices are combined. Environmental Stewardship also says that good environmental practices by livestock ranchers help with land productivity.

Other Considerations

• Urban development is a threat to cattle ranchers, as pressure to sell land can fragment or destroy privately owned grazing areas. Brucellosis, a disease believed to be transmitted from bison to cattle, is a concern in the areas around Yellowstone National Park. Drought and wildfire also periodically affect areas of the west, and can threaten the livelihood of cattle ranchers and farmers.