How do you set the stocking rate, grazing system of 100 moose, 10 bison, 3200 cattle and 1000 sheep against so many kg/ha of forage in a limited area to graze? What's the timing, frequency, kind and class of herbivore on this landscape? What is the nutritional
value of the forage and when is the right time to move a herd of 1 million animals to summer pasture in the mountains? Along a 1000-mile nomadic trek we encounter a village with a wholesale store of dry goods particularly coffee, teapots, salt and sugar. How
many sheep or how much mare's milk must we trade to get these items and where is a bank to withdraw the money instead?
We'll explore these questions this coming Fall in
Geography 309: Pastorlism in Drylands as we travel around the world and look at the Sami peoples in Siberia, Native Americans in the US Southwest, Saudis, Fulani herdmens, and Cowboys of Canada,
Mexico, and Australia. We will learn the principles of science and management of drylands and the ecosystem services they produce and their affect and how they are affected by climate change.
For undergraduates, this course counts as a physical geography course in the Geography major (by petition) and will hopeful be listed as an elective for majors in Animal Science, Forestry, Ecology and in Environmental and Soil Science. Graduate students
are also welcome, particularly those working in most of the African continent, higher altitudes of Latin America, e.g., Peru, Bolivia, Brazillian Cerrado..etc., and the Middle East. However graduate students are expected to perform extra assignments/readings/projects/etc.
and register for 500 level independent study.
Questions?
Please see attached flyer and then contact me by email or phone to discuss.
