The challenge facing grazing managers is to strike a balance between livestock output and other values. Some values may include wildlife resources while others may be as intangible as a feeling of security in the knowledge that there will be forage for grazing next year. Many of these values are affected by grazing management through plant residue left after the grazing season. Plant residue is added to the litter pool which has significant impacts on the function of the grassland ecosystem.
Litter affects plant growth and community structure.
It affects herbivory. Perhaps most important, litter introduces stability into the production cycle. The balance is between livestock production and community structure which affects the sustainability of the rangeland system and impacts on other users. Livestock grazing is one of many uses on rangeland communities with a major variable cost represented by time in managing the grazing impact. This differs from most other agricultural operations where the output is a single product and the major cost is cultural energy.