Livestock

Project Goal: To improve the health of our grasslands resulting in regenerative productions systems that support biodiversity, maintain water quality, and create soil systems that build towards their natural state over time.

The rangelands of Swanton Pacific Ranch support our successful cow-calf operation. The rangelands include coastal prairie, grasslands, and coastal chaparral habitat, which accounts for roughly 1,600 acres, located primarily on the western side of the Scotts Creek watershed.

The ranch uses a holistic management approach in their livestock operations. This includes practices which monitor environmental conditions, (water, soil, and vegetative biodiversity) to minimize negative impacts, promote native perennial grass diversity, and ensure pasture recovery.

All livestock educational opportunities are designed to provide hands-on experience in: low stress livestock handling, basic livestock production, problem solving, and sustainable/adaptive land management techniques. The consideration of water, soil quality and livestock condition while supporting rangeland ecosystem processes and wildlife biodiversity is the foundation of holistic land management practices.

Our research programs are designed around collaborative natural resource management, engaging students, faculty, staff, and a wealth of stakeholders in order to improve our undrestanding about the sustainability of our rangelands. In 2021, we embarked on a collaboration with the California Department of Food and Agriculture to research and demonstrate the effects of varying levels of compost addition to some of our most degraded rangelands. Click here to find out more.