312 Climate Management Issues
climate change caused by increasing levels of CO
2
. Specic grasses are begin-
ning to dominate that do better under higher CO
2
levels, and the quality of
the forage is beginning to drop, meaning that more acreage is needed to
provide the animals with the same nutritional value, resulting in an overall
decline in livestock productivity. Woody shrubs and invasive cheatgrass are
encroaching into once-fertile grasslands, which further reduces the forage
value of the rangeland. The combination of these factors leads to a decline in
livestock productivity and economic decline for the rancher.
It is also expected that livestock production will fall as temperatures rise.
Temperature and humidity interact to cause ...