Science on the Range

With a warmer and drier climate dominating the Colorado Plateau, traditional cattle ranching has its challenges. We talk with Utah State University PhD students Will Munger and Maria Stahl about their work at the Dugout Ranch in San Juan County, UT. The Criollo cattle, first brought to the New World by Christopher Columbus, are more adapted to arid climates, forage on more native vegetation, and travel farther from water sources. The introduction of these cattle at Dugout Ranch is part of an effort to move towards more sustainable ranching in the desert southwest.