Workshop OutlineWorkshop Outline1.1. Rangeland EcosystemsRangeland Ecosystems2.2. How Plants GrowHow Plants Grow3.3. Vegetation Dynamics (plant succession) Vegetation Dynamics (plant succession)

on Rangelandson Rangelands4.4. Principles of Grazing ManagementPrinciples of Grazing Management5.5. Concepts & Principles for Grazing SystemsConcepts & Principles for Grazing Systems6.6. Nutritional Considerations for Nutritional Considerations for

Management of Livestock on RangelandsManagement of Livestock on Rangelands7.7. The Grazing Manager as a Tool for The Grazing Manager as a Tool for

Planning, Monitoring and Managing Range Planning, Monitoring and Managing Range and Pasture Landsand Pasture Lands

Rangelands:Rangelands:Kinds, Products & UsesKinds, Products & Uses

Mort KothmannMort Kothmann

Texas A&M UniversityTexas A&M University

Rangeland DiversityRangeland Diversity

AttributesAttributes ClimateClimate SoilsSoils TopographyTopography VegetationVegetation

UsesUses Livestock productionLivestock production Wildlife habitat/productionWildlife habitat/production WatershedWatershed Biodiversity and open spaceBiodiversity and open space Real estate valueReal estate value

Dominant historical use has been livestock production

Fire, herbivory, and weather have historically been the major disturbances affecting vegetation on rangelands.

Vegetation types of world

Kinds of RangelandsKinds of Rangelands

The following slides provide examples The following slides provide examples of diverse kinds of rangelands found of diverse kinds of rangelands found around the world.around the world.

African Savanna

California Oak Savanna –Annual Grassland

Cheatgrass - Idaho

Artic TundraArtic Tundra

Aspen – Tall Forb – Grassland

Western US

Texas Rolling Plains Grassland

Mountain & Basin semi-desert shrubland

Southern mixed prairie grassland

Rio Grande Plains Thorn Shrubland

Texas Coastal Prairie: Atwater’s prairie chicken

Rangelands have very diverse Rangelands have very diverse climates, soils, vegetation, and climates, soils, vegetation, and animals. Rangeland ecosystems have animals. Rangeland ecosystems have different productive potentials and different productive potentials and require different kinds of require different kinds of management to sustain or reclaim management to sustain or reclaim them.them.