Balancing at the Top of the Food Chain

This guy decided to catch a ride yesterday as we were driving around the pasture with the grandchildren after checking cattle.  I'm not certain, but he seemed to be discussing the population of various insect species upon which he preys and making general commentary on the condition of the grass along with the fact that we need some rain.  He is a fairly good counsel in that his presence is a sign of health in the pasture.  Stocking rates and pasture conditions appeared to be important topics to him.

There are many ways to measure the health of the land on which we live and raise our livestock.  The presence, or absence, of various plant species is one aspect, wildlife that we might see or, which leaves its sign is another, but also the insect populations should be monitored.  I've mentioned before that nature is a balancing act.  It is a balance between prey and predator.  That balance is based on a healthy plant mix which is affected by the soil.  It all works together.

Many, many years ago -- long before my time -- this land was farmed for cotton.  It was plowed in such a way that it was subject to erosion and the thinness of the topsoil and the scars of various washes testify to that past.  The grasses which now cover the land are rebuilding the soil.  We rotate the stock so we can maintain sufficient leaf surface to drive the roots deeply into the soil.  In time, they, along with worms, bugs, bacteria and fungi which inhabit the soil, will build and enrich the land so that it will support even more plant growth.

Cattle are an important part of managing that system.  If allowed to grow unchecked, seasonal grasses, once they have seeded, will die and fall over, shading the ground and inhibiting the growth of grasses that should flourish at other times.  If not harvested, the dry grasses provide fuel for fires which will strip the ground clear and allow weeds to colonize.  Fire can be a useful tool to control the spread of invasive brush species, but if it burns too hot due to an overabundance of fuel, it can be a problem -- especially in this area where heavy rains can cause erosion.

Many people think we should just let the trees take over.  They believe it is the best way to "lock up carbon" for the long term.  I suspect that if managed properly, grasses, with their extensive and deep root systems, can do just as good, if not a better, job of locking carbon into the soil.  Grazing animals, besides providing a nutritious source of protein for omnivores like us, are crucial to managing plant growth to maximize sustainable forage production.  Trees alone, support little wildlife.  There needs to be a mix of forest and pasture. 

Once again, it's all about balance.  The sun provides the energy.  Plants capture it and convert it to complex sugars and carbohydrates.  Grazing animals convert those to protein.  We consume the protein.  I think my little green buddy was explaining all of that to me while he hitched his ride.  He's at the top of the food chain, just like humans.  He seems to be pretty adept at balancing.