ABSTRACT
Forages from grazing lands are being converted into high-value food and fiber products by livestock. In addition to livestock products, grazing lands also provide many other goods and services essential to well-being, including habitat for wildlife, recreational opportunities, water and air sheds, wood products, minerals, and energy resources. The 200 million acres of pine and mixed pine-hardwood forests located in the Southeast is the nation's largest area of forested grazing lands. However, the large number of livestock in the eastern US depends on the continuing availability of productive grazing lands. The nation's forested lands are needed to grow the trees to produce the lumber and paper products for industry, school, and home. Thus, the multiple uses of crop and forested lands as grazing lands can add a dimension to the farm by providing year-round feed resources to support ruminant livestock.
