The growth of forage depends on the amount of rain. Since the rain has not been plentiful this year, the cattle were sold. If the cattle are not sold then there would be over grazing. If over grazing results then there would be soil depletion that would not allow for forage to grow. The amount of forage for the cattle to eat has not been able to thrive because of the amount of juniper.
Freeman Ranch tries to reduce the amount of juniper with control burning.
Junipers require huge amounts of water. This means the amount of forage that cows could eat would be less. NHT Minor Geography Dept.