Herd & Land Management
Regenerative cattle ranching
Regenerative cattle ranching not only contributes to your family’s healthy diet, but is equally important for a healthy environment. Sound grazing techniques preserve important grassland habitat for plant and wildlife biodiversity, improve watersheds, reduce soil erosion and greenhouse gases. At Burke Creek Ranch, we take this responsibility seriously.
Why we manage cattle on horseback
Big country and varied terrain make horses an ideal way to stay in touch with our land and ensure gentle cattle.
Regenerative Grazing
Cattle that are responsibly grazed aid in a balanced and sustainable ecosystem. They help improve soil fertility and decrease soil erosion. Grasslands that have been properly managed are scientifically proven to increase carbon sequestration. By keeping the land in a natural state, we provide habitat for a diverse species of wildlife and insect species important for a healthy environment.
Regenerative grazing means that we move our animals frequently, giving grasslands extended periods of rest, similar to the movement of bison.
At Burke Creek Ranch, our mission is to operate in harmony with the natural resources entrusted to us, passing this land on in an equal or better state to the next generation. This means carefully managing grasslands to never overgraze, continually and frequently moving cattle to fresh pasture, plus prudently managing stocking rates during drought.
By keeping pasturelands in a natural state, Alberta ranchers are protecting endangered grasslands. Cattle are often raised on land that is unsuitable for producing crops. They eat grasses that people can’t digest, turning it into healthy protein for our diets.
Protecting endangered grasslands improves soil health
Over the years, high-volume industrial agriculture practices have resulted in decreased soil health. The foundation of all life starts with healthy soil. It is the lifeblood of nutrition and directly reflected in the quality of our food. Quite simply, if soil doesn't have essential nutrients, our food won't either.
Responsibly grazing cattle is an important part of the grassland ecosystem and nutrient recycling. We encourage plant diversity by using manure and other non-commercial fertilizers to aid the growth of mycorrhizal fungi, essential for soil health.
The act of grazing takes old grass off to allow roots access to sunlight, which in turn, allows the plants to grow fresh grasses. Cattle hooves break down of the soil’s crust, which increases moisture infiltration, decreases runoff and soil erosion.
Did you know?
Manure and dung beetles contribute to this increased soil health and natural fertilizer.
“Dung beetles return over 90 percent of the nitrogen in cattle dung back to the soil, which then improves the forage uptake of valuable minerals, phosphorus and sulphur by 80 percent.” Source: Farm and Dairy
Dung beetles have disappeared with the increased use of insecticides, but operations like ours that eliminate these have successfully reintroduced to our ecosystem.
Wildlife habitat protection
Pasturelands are the preferred habitat for many species of Canadian wildlife, including some that have been identified as being at risk.
At Burke Creek Ranch, we are currently hosting a study on our land by Multisar that includes looking at all the species at risk that exist on the land. By operating in partnership with Mother Nature, we provide a safe environment for large herds of elk, whitetail deer, mule deer, black bears, an increasing number of grizzly bears, wolves, coyotes, cougars, wild turkeys, multiple species of grouse, bluebirds, eagles, numerous bird species, porcupine and badgers that would have otherwise been displaced. Our creeks also contain multiple species of trout including cutthroat trout, which are identified as a species at risk.
Grasslands are an important and essential part of our ecosystem. Our regenerative approach to grazing supports generations of prairie ranchers, a healthy, local food source, maintains grassland health and benefits many species of prairie wildlife.