wimumsi 



Grasslands provide nearly two-thuds ol the animal unit months of 

 grazing on forest and range lands. 



and a long list of other byproducts. The demand for 

 grazing for dairy cattle has influenced the demand for 

 range grazing in the past, but dairy will not be a 

 significant claimant of range use in the future. Range 

 grazing by sheep to meet the demand for lamb, mut- 

 ton, and wool will have some minor influence on 

 future demand for range grazing, but historical data 

 show the decline in the volume of these products in 

 the United States. Each of these livestock products is 

 important, but the magnitude of individual and col- 

 lective demands for other products is very low as com- 

 pared to the demand for meat. 



Thus, the main factors affecting demand for range 

 grazing are: (1) The demand for meat, (2) the change 

 in relative prices of feed elements, and (3) the change 

 in technology — possible feed substitutions or feed 

 mixtures for producing a given number of livestock 

 efficiently. 



Production of beef in the United States typically 

 involves rearing the young animals on pasture and 

 range and finishing them by feeding large amounts of 

 grain. The feed for maintenance of cow herd and calf 

 production depends primarily on grazed and har- 

 vested roughages. Grazing (range and non-range) 

 now supplies about 64 percent of the feed consumed 

 by all beef cattle and 79 percent of the feed consumed 

 by sheep in the United States. Therefore, grazing is 

 critical to the continuation of the current system of 

 beef and lamb production. 



Range grazing is an important part of the economy 

 for many localities and regions, particularly in the 

 West. Maintenance and enhancement of pasture and 

 range have the potential to stabilize or strengthen 

 local rural economies and to improve the economic 

 welfare of rural families. 



Demand for Meat 



Foremost among the factors influencing future 

 demands for range grazing are the demand for beef 

 and veal per capita and the size of the U.S. popula- 

 tion. While demand for many other types of meat or 

 dairy products, i.e., lamb, pork, poultry, milk, etc., 

 also affects the demand for range grazing, the 

 demand for beef by far overshadows the demand for 

 other types of meat. Even though all types of meat are 

 mentioned throughout the analysis, the primary 

 emphasis is on consumption and production of beef. 



Per capita meat consumption is a function of many 

 variables, such as disposable income, availability of 

 meat substitutes, consumer preference for different 

 types of meat, and meat grading systems. Changes in 

 any factor will change per capita meat consumption 

 and the demand for range grazing. 



Per capita disposable income. — As disposable 

 income increases, a smaller percentage of the income 

 is needed for basic necessities and more of the income 

 is available for increased purchases of meat. 



Consumer demand for red meat is the principal factor influencing 

 the demand for range grazing. 



173 



