Sustainable Rangelands Through Low-input Grassfed Production
Sponsored by American Grassfed Association
February 11, 2010
Denver, Colorado

Session Videos

Market demand is rapidly increasing for sustainably-raised animal products. Grass-based livestock production is inherently sustainable as this production system relies on biodiversity and ecological complexity to maintain production without the use of costly inputs. The goal of sustainable rangelands and ranching is best achieved through a system of grassfed livestock production. Low-input grassfed production keeps land in permanent vegetation, which is more ecologically and economically sound than row cropping used for supplementing livestock confinement operations. Benefits of grassfed production for the environment include: reduced or eliminated pesticide use, greatly reduced soil erosion, increased soil fertility while eliminating commercial fertilizer application, increased carbon sequestration which helps combat the greenhouse effect and global warming, increased plant diversity versus monoculture crops, and improved wildlife habitat for native species. If the producer incorporates intensively-managed rotational grazing (also called management-intensive grazing or planned grazing) they can lower production costs, reduce animal stress, and boost the animal’s immune system.