In recent decades rangeland science has moved from a “command and control” framework to one that values heterogeneity, recognizes rangelands as social-ecological systems, and seeks to integrate complexity.

This new framework recognizes management as fundamentally site-specific, but rangeland science has not provided clear principles for successful livestock grazing management for use by producers and other stakeholders. This reticence has created a void often filled by prescriptive solutions that contradict our best understanding of rangeland systems.

We engaged hundreds of livestock grazing management experts in an iterative conversation to distill a set of evidence-based, adaptable principles for successful livestock grazing management in the semiarid and arid rangelands of the western United States.

The seven principles are: Practice adaptive management; Optimize stocking rate; Use a grazing plan; Prioritize ecological health; Evaluate distribution; Welfare begets performance; and Think beyond the range. The full versions of these principles contain paragraph length descriptions highlighting key considerations for each.

We envision these principles as a first draft to be improved with discussion and additional research. Further development can include definitions, suggested applications, and checklists for assessment for use in teaching, extension, and industry evaluation efforts.

Multipartner publications are often not used due to insufficient dissemination.

Incorporating partners into existing Extension programs provides scaffolding to communicate complex scientific concepts to a lay audience, such as land managers or agency personnel.

Participation, experiential learning, and creating a community of like-minded individuals is valuable in teaching new concepts to an audience, thereby resulting in a change in knowledge.

Artificial raptor perches can provide hunting and resting locations for birds of prey in rangelands, providing a benefit for biodiversity and vertebrate pest control for ranchers.

Perches can be attached to existing fenceposts in rangelands with rocky soils.

Common raptor species in our study area frequented the perches, especially American kestrels, great-horned owls, barn owls, red-tailed hawks, and turkey vultures. These species are likely to provide ecosystem services to ranchers through pest-control and sanitation.

Raptors more often used perches in irrigated pastures or in areas with a slope more than perches in unirrigated pasture and within oak woodland. Perch use may be higher in areas with higher prey availability, favorable updrafts for flight, and fewer nearby natural perches.

We do not recommend placing perches on unsteady fence lines in areas with high cattle activity because we documented cattle investigating the perches and this could lead to perches being knocked over.