Give me the eyes to see and the strength to understand
Post by Clemson Montana Summer Program student Caroline Wolfe
Prior to taking this class, I have never been exposed to the planning that goes into maintaining livestock. With the first lecture about the different components of stomachs between different species, I was at a loss with all the unique types of digestion systems. On top of this, each different type of digestive system determines the number of nutrients the animal can absorb, which also governs what and how much it can consume. Although, in the end, I thought it was very interesting how one simple aspect such as, an animal’s intestine could determine how much nutrients it could absorb and therefore determine how large it could grow. After learning the fundamentals of different types of digestion systems, we were introduced to grazing management. This regulates a number of nutrients each head of cattle is able to acquire so they are able to get the optimal amount of nutrients for body maintenance, growth, and reproduction.
With all of this new knowledge under our belt, we were taken to hear a rancher talk about the grazing management system that he uses to take care of his cattle. Listening to him talk about his system, I found that it was difficult for me to agree with some of his choices of management. Since I did not grow up on a ranch and I am currently getting a degree in Environmental and Natural Resources with a concentration in Conservation Biology, my values are different from him as a rancher. Differences in backgrounds such as this lead to differences in values and beliefs of how ranchers should run their operation and manage their relationship with the environment.
One of the great differences in views is the use of non-native plants to feed cattle. While there may seem to be advantages to planting a non-native crop, such as crested wheatgrass, the imminent effects that it can cause to the environment are almost irreversible. Once crested wheatgrass is planted, it forms dense patches of communities of solely their own species, impeding biodiversity. Also, the palatability of crested wheatgrass varies throughout its growth period. In the beginning of the growing season, cattle will consume the grass with no hesitation. However, in a rather short amount of time the cattle begin to deter away from eating any crested wheatgrass. This behavior goes the same for the wildlife in the surrounding area, such as mule deer, elk, pronghorns and prairie dogs. During this time, the fields of crested wheatgrass lay useless. Later in the growing season, the crested wheatgrass suddenly regains it palatability to cattle and wildlife. Although I can see how ranchers would view this as beneficial to have an unwanted field that will remain as a stockpile for the winter months to come, from an ecosystem viewpoint it is extremely inefficient. Throughout the multiple months that crested wheatgrass is unusable, this is precious time that cattle and wildlife could use to further their weight gain to help survive the harsher winter months. Another harmful aspect of introducing a non-native species is that it has the ability to become invasive. Once a species is invasive, this means that it can spread into new areas and become the dominant species of that new area over time. In addition to altering the vegetation of the environment, ranchers can also alter the vertebrate species that can be found on their property.
In addition to exploring the daily life of ranchers, we were also taken to observe how feedlots operate. While we were pulling up to the feedlot, we passed a man leaning against his truck. We later discovered that the owners had hired him to try to get rid of the prairie dogs that were living on part of their property. As they were explaining how they run their feedlot, I couldn’t help but focus on the gunshots that I heard in the distance, knowing the fate that several of the prairie dogs will face. This is a prime example of how ranchers influence the species that are and are not found around their property. A type of species that can now be found in plentiful numbers around their feedlot is mule deer. The wide-open access to the food that will soon fill the silage is all too easy for the mule deer to have a buffet on. Although they have tried and tried again to stop them from eating their food and reducing their profits, nothing has proven to stop the mule deer from accessing the nutritious buffet. Differences in values and beliefs such as this are what makes coming to common ground on how to manage ranches and their interactions with the wildlife that surrounds them with great difficulty.
While trying to understand and comprehend from a rancher’s point of view the decisions that they make, I found myself thinking back to the book I read prior to traveling out to Montana. The book I read was Black Elk Speaks by John G. Neihardt, which is about the story of the life a Lakota in the Ogalala band, named Black Elk. Throughout the book, it goes through Black Elk’s life of receiving a vision and given the responsibility to save his people from the “Wasichus”, otherwise known as white settlers, who were killing their way of life with each coming year. Black Elk said, “Give me the eyes to see and the strength to understand, that I may be like you” (page 4). This quote spoke to me on a very personal level because, in order to try to be the best person that I can be, I have to remember that not everyone thinks exactly as I do. With this in mind, I try to remain as objective as possible when looking at the techniques that ranchers use to manage not only their business but also their way of life.
This occurrence of a clash between different views is held not only in the prairie but also throughout various other parts of America. It can be from the seemingly simple act of wanting to plant the gorgeous exotic plant with its extravagant bloom, which will make your garden that much more beautiful, to planting a non-native crop such as crested wheatgrass. Each action, no matter how un-seemingly significant, can bring about a dire change to the ecosystem that it was placed in. It is up for current and future generations to determine the value that planting certain non-native crops or ornamentals have for our population. We also have to keep in mind the effect our actions will take on our home, Earth. No matter where someone may live, they should never forget that the ground, water, and air that may seem to constantly stand nearby, travels far around the globe. These essential elements are shared with others, inevitably connecting all us to the actions we make.
Prior to taking this class, I have never been exposed to the planning that goes into maintaining livestock. With the first lecture about the different components of stomachs between different species, I was at a loss with all the unique types of digestion systems. On top of this, each different type of digestive system determines the number of nutrients the animal can absorb, which also governs what and how much it can consume. Although, in the end, I thought it was very interesting how one simple aspect such as, an animal’s intestine could determine how much nutrients it could absorb and therefore determine how large it could grow. After learning the fundamentals of different types of digestion systems, we were introduced to grazing management. This regulates a number of nutrients each head of cattle is able to acquire so they are able to get the optimal amount of nutrients for body maintenance, growth, and reproduction.With all of this new knowledge under our belt, we were taken to hear a rancher talk about the grazing management system that he uses to take care of his cattle. Listening to him talk about his system, I found that it was difficult for me to agree with some of his choices of management. Since I did not grow up on a ranch and I am currently getting a degree in Environmental and Natural Resources with a concentration in Conservation Biology, my values are different from him as a rancher. Differences in backgrounds such as this lead to differences in values and beliefs of how ranchers should run their operation and manage their relationship with the environment.
One of the great differences in views is the use of non-native plants to feed cattle. While there may seem to be advantages to planting a non-native crop, such as crested wheatgrass, the imminent effects that it can cause to the environment are almost irreversible. Once crested wheatgrass is planted, it forms dense patches of communities of solely their own species, impeding biodiversity. Also, the palatability of crested wheatgrass varies throughout its growth period. In the beginning of the growing season, cattle will consume the grass with no hesitation. However, in a rather short amount of time the cattle begin to deter away from eating any crested wheatgrass. This behavior goes the same for the wildlife in the surrounding area, such as mule deer, elk, pronghorns and prairie dogs. During this time, the fields of crested wheatgrass lay useless. Later in the growing season, the crested wheatgrass suddenly regains it palatability to cattle and wildlife. Although I can see how ranchers would view this as beneficial to have an unwanted field that will remain as a stockpile for the winter months to come, from an ecosystem viewpoint it is extremely inefficient. Throughout the multiple months that crested wheatgrass is unusable, this is precious time that cattle and wildlife could use to further their weight gain to help survive the harsher winter months. Another harmful aspect of introducing a non-native species is that it has the ability to become invasive. Once a species is invasive, this means that it can spread into new areas and become the dominant species of that new area over time. In addition to altering the vegetation of the environment, ranchers can also alter the vertebrate species that can be found on their property.
In addition to exploring the daily life of ranchers, we were also taken to observe how feedlots operate. While we were pulling up to the feedlot, we passed a man leaning against his truck. We later discovered that the owners had hired him to try to get rid of the prairie dogs that were living on part of their property. As they were explaining how they run their feedlot, I couldn’t help but focus on the gunshots that I heard in the distance, knowing the fate that several of the prairie dogs will face. This is a prime example of how ranchers influence the species that are and are not found around their property. A type of species that can now be found in plentiful numbers around their feedlot is mule deer. The wide-open access to the food that will soon fill the silage is all too easy for the mule deer to have a buffet on. Although they have tried and tried again to stop them from eating their food and reducing their profits, nothing has proven to stop the mule deer from accessing the nutritious buffet. Differences in values and beliefs such as this are what makes coming to common ground on how to manage ranches and their interactions with the wildlife that surrounds them with great difficulty. 
While trying to understand and comprehend from a rancher’s point of view the decisions that they make, I found myself thinking back to the book I read prior to traveling out to Montana. The book I read was Black Elk Speaks by John G. Neihardt, which is about the story of the life a Lakota in the Ogalala band, named Black Elk. Throughout the book, it goes through Black Elk’s life of receiving a vision and given the responsibility to save his people from the “Wasichus”, otherwise known as white settlers, who were killing their way of life with each coming year. Black Elk said, “Give me the eyes to see and the strength to understand, that I may be like you” (page 4). This quote spoke to me on a very personal level because, in order to try to be the best person that I can be, I have to remember that not everyone thinks exactly as I do. With this in mind, I try to remain as objective as possible when looking at the techniques that ranchers use to manage not only their business but also their way of life.This occurrence of a clash between different views is held not only in the prairie but also throughout various other parts of America. It can be from the seemingly simple act of wanting to plant the gorgeous exotic plant with its extravagant bloom, which will make your garden that much more beautiful, to planting a non-native crop such as crested wheatgrass. Each action, no matter how un-seemingly significant, can bring about a dire change to the ecosystem that it was placed in. It is up for current and future generations to determine the value that planting certain non-native crops or ornamentals have for our population. We also have to keep in mind the effect our actions will take on our home, Earth. No matter where someone may live, they should never forget that the ground, water, and air that may seem to constantly stand nearby, travels far around the globe. These essential elements are shared with others, inevitably connecting all us to the actions we make.
