Effect of Rancher’s Management Philosophy, Grazing Practices, and Personal Characteristics on Sustainability Indices for North Central Texas Rangeland Page: 2
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Becker, Wayne. Effect of ranchers' management philosophy, grazing practices, and
personal characteristics on sustainability indices for north central Texas rangeland. Doctor of
Philosophy (Environmental Science), December 2011, 216 pp., 45 tables, 24 figures, references,
92 titles.
To assess sustainability of privately owned rangeland, a questionnaire was used to
gathered data from ranches in Cooke, Montague, Clay, Wise, Parker, and Jack counties in North
Central Texas. Information evaluated included: management philosophy, economics, grazing
practices, environmental condition, quality of life, and demographics. Sustainability indices
were created based on economic and land health indicator variables meeting a minimum
Cronbach's alpha coefficient (a = 0.7). Hierarchical regression analysis was used to create
models explaining variance in respondents' indices scores. Five predictors explained 36% of the
variance in rangeland economic sustainability index when respondents: 1) recognized
management inaction has opportunity costs affecting economic viability; 2) considered forbs a
valuable source of forage for wildlife or livestock; 3) believed governmental assistance with
brush control was beneficial; 4) were not absentee landowners and did not live in an urban area
in Texas, and; 5) valued profit, productivity, tax issues, family issues, neighbor issues or weather
issues above that of land health. Additionally, a model identified 5 predictors which explained
30% of the variance for respondents with index scores aligning with greater land health
sustainability. Predictors indicated: 1) fencing cost was not an obstacle for increasing livestock
distribution; 2) land rest was a component of grazing plans; 3) the Natural Resource
Conservation Service was used for management information; 4) fewer acres were covered by
dense brush or woodlands, and; 5) management decisions were not influenced by friends.
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Becker, Wayne. Effect of Rancher’s Management Philosophy, Grazing Practices, and Personal Characteristics on Sustainability Indices for North Central Texas Rangeland, dissertation, December 2011; Denton, Texas. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc103289/m1/2/?rotate=90: accessed April 19, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; .