Texas brush problems and rangeland productivity: An economic evaluation of the Rolling Plains Land Resource Area

This is an economic study of rangeland productivity and the economic effect of brush encroachment and removal on rangeland in the Rolling Plains Land Resource Area of Texas. To better understand the region and range livestock production, the operational and managerial posture of the Southwestern ranching industry was examined and is described in the initial phase of the study. Long-term probable herbage yields were calculated for 18 range sites in three homogeneous rainfall probability sub-regions of the Rolling Plains Land Resource Area. Total herbage yield was converted to utilizable digestable energy and ultimately transformed into marketable live calf weight via cow-producing units. A range site productivity indexing system was developed to facilitate economic evaluation of each range site by simply applying the appropriate indices to the analysis developed in the study for "base" sites. Rangeland productivity deterioration was functionally related to brush canopy cover density and restoration of productivity was functionally related to brush removal. Cow-producing unit production costs were budgeted and partial budgeted to determine total and marginal live calf weight production cost per pound. Net annual income was calculated for 5 percent incremental changes in brush canopy cover on "base" range sites in each sub-region using four different live calf weight price levels. The analysis and analytical techniques developed in this dissertation can aid ranch firm decision makers in evaluating losses and gains associated with specified levels of changes in brush canopy density.