For decades, conventional wisdom suggested that livestock were enemies of the land, that cattle and other grazing animals caused desertification, stripped grasslands bare, and contributed to climate change. But what if we’ve had it backwards all along? What if properly managed livestock could be the solution to reversing land degradation and cooling our planet?
This is the revolutionary premise behind holistic intensive grazing, a land management approach that Dr. Allan Savory of the Savory Institute has championed for over four decades. The results speak for themselves: degraded landscapes transformed into thriving ecosystems, carbon sequestered back into the soil, and ranching operations that are more productive and profitable than ever before.
The Desertification Crisis We’re Not Talking About
While much of the climate conversation focuses on fossil fuels and emissions, there’s another crisis unfolding beneath our feet. Grasslands are degrading due to mismanagement, yet these vast and fragile landscapes play a critical role in ensuring a healthy future for all species on the planet. When grasslands die, they don’t just disappear, they take with them the soil’s ability to hold water, sequester carbon, and support life.
Desertification isn’t just happening in faraway places. It’s occurring across the American West, in the Great Plains, and on ranches that have been in families for generations. Bare ground, invasive species, and declining carrying capacity are signs that the land is crying out for a different approach.
The good news? Grasslands can be restored. And stronger, healthier grasslands are one of our most powerful tools for cooling Earth’s surface temperatures and combating climate change.
What Makes Holistic Management Different?
Holistic Management is more than just the planned grazing for which the Savory Institute is known, it’s a decision-making framework for balancing the ecological, financial, and social needs of any complex system and creating truly regenerative outcomes for all involved.
At its core, holistic intensive grazing mimics nature. Think about how wild herds of bison, wildebeest, or elk historically moved across landscapes. They would graze intensively in one area, trampling old plant material and fertilizing the soil with their waste, then move on. The land would then have extended rest periods to recover, allowing plants to regrow with deep roots and increased vigor.
Traditional continuous grazing does the opposite. Cattle spread out across large pastures, selectively eating their favorite plants down to nothing while avoiding others. The result? Overgrazing of preferred species, underutilization of the rest, and soil that never gets the impact and fertilization it needs.
Holistic grazing flips this script by:
Concentrating Animals: Using in-herding, virtual fencing, temporary fencing or careful planning to create high-density herds that graze intensively in small areas
Planned Movement: Moving livestock frequently, sometimes daily, so that no single area is overgrazed
Extended Rest Periods: Allowing grazed areas substantial recovery time, often 60-90 days or more, before animals return
Mimicking Natural Patterns: Replicating the beneficial effects that wild herding animals had on grasslands for millennia
The Science Behind the Success
The results of holistic grazing practices are measurable and dramatic. The Savory Institute’s Ecological Outcome Verification protocol monitors both leading and lagging indicators of ecosystem health, providing land managers with the insights needed for improved management.
When done correctly, holistic grazing:
Builds Soil: Animal impact breaks down old plant material and incorporates it into the soil surface, while manure and urine add fertility. Over time, organic matter increases, creating darker, richer soil that can hold dramatically more water.
Captures Carbon: As plants regrow with deeper, healthier root systems, they pull carbon from the atmosphere and store it in the soil. Grasslands managed this way can become significant carbon sinks, helping to offset greenhouse gas emissions.
Increases Water Infiltration: Better soil structure and more plant cover mean that when rain falls, it soaks into the ground instead of running off. This recharges aquifers, fills stock ponds, and keeps streams flowing longer into the season.
Enhances Biodiversity: Diverse plant communities return when selective grazing pressure is removed. With more plant diversity comes more insect life, bird populations, and wildlife habitat.
Improves Ranch Economics: Healthier land carries more livestock, requires less supplemental feeding, and produces higher-quality forage. Many ranchers find that regenerative practices improve their bottom line.
From Degraded Land to Thriving Ecosystems
The transformation possible through holistic management is nothing short of remarkable. Ranches that were barely supporting a cow-calf pair per 40 or 50 acres have been restored to carrying one pair per 10 acres, or even better. Bare, dusty ground becomes covered with diverse grasses and forbs. Springs that had dried up begin flowing again.
These aren’t theoretical outcomes. The Savory Institute has documented countless success stories across every continent except Antarctica. From the arid landscapes of Africa to the prairies of North America, from Australia to South America, the principles work because they’re based on how grassland ecosystems evolved to function.
The Real Estate Connection: Investing in Regenerative Ranches
As regenerative agriculture gains momentum, savvy buyers and investors are recognizing that ranch properties managed using holistic principles represent superior long-term value. This is where experienced brokers who understand both traditional ranching and regenerative practices become invaluable.
John Stratman, an Associate Broker and Principal Owner with Mason & Morse Ranch Company, brings a unique perspective to ranch real estate. With over 30 years of experience in agricultural real estate lending, sales, and management, John has lived and worked on ranches across Colorado, Montana, and Arizona. He’s not just a broker, he grew up on a ranch and has operated his own ranch raising registered Red Angus seedstock and Quarter Horses, giving him firsthand understanding of what makes a ranching operation successful.
John’s portfolio includes some of the West’s most impressive properties, from working cattle operations to recreational ranches, many of which span thousands of acres of productive grassland. His background includes 18 years with MetLife’s Agricultural Investment Department, where he specialized in purchasing, managing, and marketing large agricultural properties across multiple western states.
For buyers interested in regenerative ranching, working with a broker who understands land quality, water resources, carrying capacity, and improvement value is essential. Properties with good soil, adequate moisture, and proven production history command premium prices, and for good reason. A ranch with verified regenerative management practices and documented ecological improvement isn’t just a place to run cattle; it’s an investment in land that’s actively increasing in productivity and ecological value.
Looking Forward: Grasslands as Climate Solutions
As the climate conversation evolves, we’re beginning to understand that solutions aren’t only about reducing emissions, they’re also about restoring the planet’s natural systems. Restoring grasslands through Holistic Management can regenerate land and livelihoods while impacting every species on the planet.
The path forward requires:
Education and Training: More ranchers learning and implementing holistic management principles through accredited educators and programs
Market Recognition: Supporting initiatives like Land to Market that connect regeneratively produced products with conscious consumers
Financial Support: Making capital available for ranchers transitioning to regenerative practices, as the Savory Foundation is working to accomplish
Policy Alignment: Creating incentives that reward ecological improvement rather than just commodity production
Community Building: Developing regional hubs where ranchers can learn from each other and share successes and challenges
Getting Started with Holistic Management
For ranchers interested in exploring holistic management, the Savory Institute offers multiple pathways. Other experts, such as Earth Pulse Solutions and Understanding Ag are also available to consult on western US ranch properties.
The framework is remarkably adaptable. Whether you’re managing 100 acres or 100,000 acres, running a cow-calf operation or a sheep ranch, in Montana or Texas, the principles can be tailored to your unique situation. The key is beginning with a clear holistic context—understanding what you’re really working to create, and then making management decisions that move you toward that goal.
A New Vision for Western Lands
Imagine driving through ranch country and seeing landscape after landscape of lush, diverse grasslands. Imagine springs flowing that had been dry for decades. Imagine wildlife populations thriving alongside productive livestock operations. Imagine rural communities revitalized by ranches that are more profitable and more ecologically sound than ever before.
This isn’t a fantasy. It’s happening right now on ranches across the West and around the world. Every fence that goes up to create better grazing management, every watering system installed to improve livestock distribution, every decision made with the whole ecosystem in mind—these are steps toward healing our grasslands and, by extension, our planet.
The degradation of our grasslands took more than a century. Reversing it won’t happen overnight. But with proven frameworks like Holistic Management, dedicated land stewards, and growing market support for regenerative products, we have the tools we need. We know what works. Now it’s a matter of implementation at scale.
For those looking to invest in ranch properties, to start or expand an operation, or simply to be part of the solution, the regenerative ranching movement offers an inspiring path forward. It’s proof that we can produce food, improve ecosystems, sequester carbon, and build thriving rural economies, all at the same time.
The grasslands that cover so much of our planet aren’t just scenery. They’re working landscapes that, when properly managed, can help stabilize our climate, support biodiversity, and sustain human livelihoods for generations to come. That’s a vision worth working toward, one pasture at a time.
For more information about holistic management and regenerative agriculture contact us for referrals to experts on regenerative agriculture and holistic grazing. To explore ranch properties across the Western United States, including operations with regenerative potential, connect with experienced brokers like John Stratman at Mason & Morse Ranch Company or visit RanchLand.com.