Stockmanship for rangelands
Applications of stockmanship, especially low-stress herding, to strategic grazing management, rangeland health, and conflict minimization.
For me, this began as a rangeland conservationist and ranch manager, recognizing the many benefits of low-stress livestock handling for improving the resilience of livestock operations, and especially facilitating strategic grazing management. As a wildlife conservationist, I was curious about the ways that it could change livestock behavior, in ways that can reduce vulnerability to predation, thus also facilitating livestock-carnivore coexistence. Most of these publications are the result of collaboration with rancher Whit Hibbard, founder and editor of the Stockmanship Journal.
Publications
The inaugural Range Practicum: A hands-on land and livestock training
Rangelands
December 2021 | 43(6): 231-239 | M. Barnes, R. Reichert, and T. Barrett
The inaugural Range Practicum: Hands-on land and livestock training
Working Ranch
November 2020 | 15(6): 82-84 | M. Barnes
Strategic grazing management using low-stress herding and night penning for animal impact
Stockmanship Journal
July 2016 | 5(2): 57-71 | M. Barnes and W. Hibbard
Stockmanship and range management
Stockmanship Journal
July 2016 | 5(2): 1-15 | W. Hibbard and M. Barnes
Low-stress herding improves herd instinct, facilitates strategic grazing management
Stockmanship Journal
January 2015 | 4(1): 34-43 | M. Barnes
Presentations
Low-stress herding and herd instinct for distribution on mountain rangelands and livestock – large carnivore coexistence
University of Arizona Cooperative Extension and Ranching Heritage Alliance
April 17, 2019 | X Diamond Ranch | Eagar, Arizona | M. Barnes
Practical Implementation of Stockmanship on Public and Private Lands in Montana and Wyoming to Reduce Predation
3rd Bud Williams Memorial Stockmanship Symposium
February 1, 2018 | Society for Range Management | Sparks, Nevada | M. Barnes
Low-stress herding improves herd instinct, facilitates strategic grazing management and coexistence with carnivores
2015 – 2017 | M. Barnes
June 23, 2017 | Wolf-Livestock Coexistence Workshop | Shasta County, USDA Wildlife Services, and Defenders of Wildlife | Hat Creek, California
November 15, 2016 | Wyoming Section Society for Range Management and Wyoming Chapter of The Wildlife Society | Cody, Wyoming
May 14, 2016 | Low-stress livestock handling workshop | People and Carnivores, Shoshone National Forest, and Dubois-Crowheart Conservation District | Dubois, Wyoming
February 2, 2016 | 2nd Bud Williams Memorial Stockmanship Symposium | Society for Range Management | Corpus Christi, Texas
February 4, 2015 | 1st Bud Williams Memorial Stockmanship Symposium | Society for Range Management | Sacramento, California
Matt, gathering cattle from water for afternoon herding, Montana | Photo credit: Laura Lundquist
Matt speaking at the Stockmanship Symposium, on rekindling the herd instinct in cattle | Photo credit: Jesse Bussard
Matt, low-stress herding, to manage grazing and prevent livestock predation, Wyoming