Cattle as a Tool for Wildlife and Land Stewardship

 When properly managed, cattle are far more than a means of producing beef—they are a powerful tool for managing land in a way that benefits our wildlife, soils, and entire ecosystems. Long before modern agriculture, much of the southeastern United States was dominated by open savannas, particularly pine- and oak-driven systems with grasses, forbs, and scattered trees. These landscapes did not exist by accident. They were shaped by disturbance, movement, and grazing from large ruminants such as bison and, later, cattle.

Today, much of that diverse mosaic has been replaced by dense, even-aged monocrop stands of loblolly pine, where closed canopies block sunlight and suppress nearly all understory growth. The loss of these savanna habitats has been devastating for wildlife: northern bobwhite quail lose nesting and brood habitat, wild turkeys lack insect-rich openings for poults, deer have little quality browse, and insects decline sharply, rippling through the entire food web. What was once a dynamic, fire- and grazer-maintained ecosystem has in many places become a simplified landscape optimized for timber production rather than ecological resilience.

The Historic Savanna Landscape

Across the Southeast, fire-maintained savannas once covered thousands and thousands of acres. Frequent, low-intensity fires kept woody plants in check while allowing grasses and native forbs to flourish. Large grazing animals moved across these landscapes, consuming vegetation, cycling nutrients, and preventing any one plant community from becoming dominant.

As fire was suppressed and grazing removed or mismanaged, these savannas began to disappear. Dense brush, closed canopies, and poor ground cover replaced diverse plant communities. With that shift came a dramatic loss of wildlife habitat, particularly for species that depend on open ground, sunlight, and a mix of grasses and broadleaf plants.

Grazing as a Reset Button for Succession

Just as fire resets plant succession, properly managed cattle can do the same. Short-duration grazing followed by long rest periods prevents pastures from becoming rank or overgrown while encouraging plant diversity and vigor. Grazing keeps grasses in a vegetative state, opens up the canopy at ground level, and allows sunlight to reach native forbs and legumes that are critical for wildlife.

Cattle don’t just remove forage, they stimulate regrowth. Their presence creates variation across the landscape, with areas of heavier use and areas left untouched, mimicking the natural patterns created by historic grazing herds. This mosaic of plant structure is exactly what many wildlife species require.

Fertility That Feeds the System

Cattle also move the land forward through natural fertilization. Manure and urine return nutrients directly to the soil, feeding microbes and fueling plant growth without the need for synthetic inputs. Over time, this increases soil organic matter, improves water infiltration, and supports healthier, more resilient plant communities.

Healthier soils grow better forage, and better forage supports both livestock and wildlife. This closed-loop system benefits the entire ecosystem rather than destroying it.

Creating Habitat for Quail, Turkey, and More

Species such as quail and wild turkey thrive in landscapes that offer a mix of open ground, nesting cover, brood-rearing habitat, and abundant insect life. Properly managed grazing helps create all of these conditions.

• Quail benefit from bare ground for movement, native grasses for nesting, and broadleaf plants that support insect populations for chicks.

• Turkeys rely on open understories for nesting and bug-rich foraging areas for poults, as well as diverse plant communities for cover and food.

Without grazing or fire, these habitats quickly disappear. Thick thatch, woody encroachment, and closed canopies limit movement, reduce food availability, and increase predator pressure.

Working With Nature Instead of Against It

Cattle are not destructive by nature—mismanagement is. When grazing is intentional, adaptive, and aligned with natural processes, cattle become one of the most effective tools we have for restoring and maintaining healthy landscapes.

By combining grazing with appropriate rest and, where possible, fire, we can rebuild savanna-like systems that support wildlife, improve soil health, and sustain productive agriculture. In doing so, cattle return to their original role—not just as livestock, but as partners in land stewardship.

This approach doesn’t just produce beef. It produces habitat, resilience, and a landscape that works the way it was always meant to.