Adaptive Grazing Management at Rancho Largo Cattle Company

Abstract

In this case study we relate a rancher’s efforts to make a living and pay the mortgage on 14,020 acres of short- grass steppe in southeastern Colorado. Grady Grissom (manager) and a partner acquired Rancho Largo Cattle Company (RLCC) in late 1995. Grissom had good knowl- edge of day-to-day ranch operations from ranch employment experience, but no experience in strategic (longer-term) man- agement decisions such as stocking rates, ecological sustain- ability, or enterprise selection. Our story illustrates the learn- ing curve as Grissom gained that experience.

DOI: 10.2458/azu_rangelands_v35i5_grissom