Location: Rangeland Resources & Systems Research
Project Number: 3012-21500-001-050-N
Project Type: Non-Funded Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Sep 1, 2025
End Date: Mar 31, 2028
Objective:
Co-develop adaptive and precision management strategies using stockers (yearlings) and young cow-calf pairs in High Plains rangeland social-ecological systems to provide multiple ecosystem services (e.g., livestock production, soil carbon storage) and adapt to climate change (maintain or reduce enteric methane emission intensity).
Approach:
Research will be conducted at the USDA Agricultural Research Service, High Plains Grasslands Research Station, Cheyenne, WY. Both parties have a history in co-produced, cooperative, fundamental and applied livestock grazing research that is relevant to local, regional, and national ranchers and organizations such as the Wyoming Stock Growers Association and the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. Projects involving both young cow-calf pairs and stockers (yearlings) will strengthen the applicability of research findings to producers and industry.
The Cooperator will co-develop research projects involving adaptive and precision management strategies and co-produce research through direct involvement in adaptive management decision-making through determinations of flexible stocking rates and types of pastures (e.g., native, cool-season introduced) and their sequence of use in the grazing season. The Cooperator has the capacity to furnish each year, at the times requested for each grazing season, the number of each class, sex and weight of beef cattle needed for cooperative investigations addressing precision management strategies at the High Plains Grasslands Research Station. Cattle furnished by the Cooperator will graze on experimental pastures in the manner and amounts deemed necessary for this co-produced research.