With the instability of commodity prices and the skyrocketing prices of real estate, making a profit from ranching has become increasingly difficult. If you don't want to see condos replace your cows, sustainable ranching may be a viable option for you. Sustainable, eco-friendly ranching is a popular form of ranch management that is gaining traction because it helps ranchers make more profit and save money all the while protecting the environment.
How Sustainable Practices Can Boost Your Ranching Income and Save You Money
An increasing number of people are willing to pay top dollar for naturally-raised meat and visits to guest ranches that protect wildlife, open space, water, and soil. Tourists are eager to pay you handsomely to stay in a secluded parcel of your ranch to enjoy hunting, fishing and other outdoor activities. Ranchers report that sustainable ranching practices increase income by about 15 to 25 percent.
By reducing technological and chemical inputs, ranchers can also save a lot of money on operating costs. When you change the way you manage your livestock and make it more sustainable, it is possible to produce more forage and graze more animals in addition.
What is Sustainable Ranch Management?
Some practices in sustainable ranch management include using crop rotation for soil health, improving habitat for endangered species in the area, and managing animals better to reduce stress-related illness. Sustainable ranchers encourage their herds to graze densely in one area before moving onto another, allowing that land to recover naturally. By using nutrition and animal husbandry practices, ranchers can control disease and increase weight gain among livestock naturally. Ranchers do not give their livestock antibiotics or hormones to encourage growth and can thus sell meat to the lucrative natural foods market, which pays premium prices. Sustainable management also eliminates the need for farming and hay production, allowing ranchers to have more free time to spend with their families.
On a sustainable ranch, ranchers develop an upland water source in order to protect riparian areas and water quality while providing water to livestock. They select livestock and crop species that are well-adapted to the conditions of the ranch property. Sustainable ranchers also prevent livestock waste from contaminating groundwater and surface water. By handling livestock carefully and providing them with fresh water, balanced feed rations, and suitable shelter, sustainable ranchers prevent stress-related illness among livestock and maintain their livestock's health.
Everyone has an obligation to take care of the planet. If you want to increase profits from ranching while respecting the planet, sustainable ranch management may be right for you.
Peter Gooding has been developing Northern AZ real estate for over 15 years. He specializes in developing the finest horse property in Arizona, including his current project, Las Vegas Ranch Estates, which is a series of sustainable Arizona ranches for sale.
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