Carol Baldwin, range specialist
How does woody encroachment affect cattle production? Each tree decreases the available forage and can produce seed for yet more trees to spread and grow, and in effect reduces the amount of land available for cattle production in a pasture. Even a pasture with only a few trees is at risk of future grazing losses as woody encroachment expands. Treating woody plants while they are small and easy to remove with prescribed burning protects against future production loss, maintains health rangelands, sustains native rangeland wildlife, and reduces wildfire intensity. As woody plants spread and mature, treatment costs escalate with the need for mechanical removal.
The redcedar calculator gives a rough idea of how redcedar encroachment impacts livestock production. Calculation spreadsheets based on vegetative measurements in the Smoky Hills, Gypsum Hills, and Flint Hills of Kansas illustrate how redcedars can affect production losses by reducing carrying capacity of a pasture. When it comes to woody plant control, sooner is better!
