It may cost less to bring the animals to the feed than the feed to the animals, but that’s not always the case for water. Sometimes public lands have enough forage to support livestock but not enough water, according to a report posted today by AgAlert, a trade publication based in Sacramento, CA.
One of the ranchers interviewed for the story noted that grazing by the AUM makes more sense than grazing by the acre [especially when the fee is five percent, give or take, of the going rate on private lands]. Pay only for what you use.
As for the horses, they’re going after the same water, so in some cases the ranchers have to haul it in for their animals.
RELATED: Montana Grazing Fees.
Western Horse Watchers Association 