He believes that feedlot cattle are the problem, producing only one pound of food in exchange for 2.25 L gasoline, 4.8 kg grain, and 3,000 L water. Savory says that grass-fed range beef can play a vital role in reversing the destruction they have caused. Undergrazing grassland leads to loss of biodiversity and an abundance of forage that results in fires. Bringing large, concentrated herds of animals, mainly cattle, onto the land and systematically moving them produces high biodiversity, stability, and productivity. On rangelands, where cattle naturally belong, they can be produced at less expense and without the drugs necessary in confinement feedlots.
Savory concludes that cattle can thus be used to restore habitat and to protect biodiversity.