Grazing Land Stewardship: A Manual for Hawaii Landowners is a comprehensive resource designed to help landowners interpret their land and manage natural resources to meet their objectives. In many respects a “how-to” manual, it compiles guidance from trained professionals who have applied these proven practices in the field.

The principles of grazing land health, ecological processes, grazing behavior, plant–animal interactions, and grazing management presented here are universal. While written for Hawaii, the material is applicable throughout most temperate regions. Topics such as planning, decision making, and reading the land offer practical insight for anyone managing grazing animals, whether on large ranches or small acreages. This book provides the essential information and field-tested guidelines needed to become a better manager and responsible steward of grazing lands.

Table of Contents

Foreword; Introduction; Grazing Basics (1. The Basics of Grazing Land Health; 2. Forage Quality and Livestock Nutrition; 3. Understanding Livestock Forage Intake; 4. Forage Selection: To Eat or Not to Eat; 5. How Grazing and Browsing Affect Plants; 6. Water and Fences Determine Grazing Success; 7. Interpreting Grazing Behavior; 8. Major Forages of Hawaii); Getting Started (9. Setting Goals, Planning Strategically, and Implementing Plans; 10. Reading the Land and Conducting an Inventory; 11. How Many Animals Can Be Grazed?; 12. Grazing Strategies—Each Ranch Is Unique; 13. A Checklist of Grazing Management Decisions); Follow Through (14. Grazing Land Records Are Necessary; 15. Using Body Condition Scores to Manage Livestock and Grazing Lands); References and Resources.