In a twist that might make you smile, a fire department in Missouri has swapped out loud machines for a herd of hungry goats to keep their land tidy. The West Metro Fire Protection District decided to try something different. They hired goats to clear out pesky weeds and overgrown plants around Stat
In the southeastern US, raising beef cattle is a big deal. Farmers need to understand how grass grows, how cows eat, and how these things work together. It's a complex puzzle. To make sense of it all, scientists use math models. These models help predict how much cows can gain weight each day when t
Climate shifts are shrinking the world’s biggest food farms. Across continents, grasslands that support millions of herders are becoming less suitable for livestock as temperatures rise and rainfall patterns change. Scientists used a “safe climatic space” method to map these changes, looking a
The study shows that the layout of artificial reefs strongly influences where a common sea‑urchin grazer spends its time. Researchers built several mock reef structures with different shapes and measured how the urchins moved around them. On flat, open designs, the urchins spread out widely. They v
Public lands in the U. S. are vast, covering an area more than twice the size of California. These lands are used for many things, including grazing livestock. The government allows ranchers to use these lands for a fee, but the fees are much lower than what ranchers would pay on private land. In fa
In the rugged North Himalayan foothills, a special kind of cow has been quietly thriving. The Belahi cattle, a newly recognized breed, are not your average cows. They've been roaming and grazing freely, adapting to the tough conditions of the Shivalik range for generations. These cows are like the s
Austria is in a state of grief after a tragic school shooting in Graz. The city is trying to make sense of the violence that took place at Dreierschützengasse high school. A 21-year-old former student opened fire, killing 10 people and injuring about a dozen others. The shooter used a shotgun and pi
In the heart of Ethiopia, a unique farming system thrives where sheep, goats, and cattle share the same pastures. This communal grazing practice is the backbone of many people's livelihoods. However, a tiny yet powerful foe threatens this sustainable setup: gastrointestinal nematodes, or worms. With
In the Maasai Steppe of northern Tanzania, dry season grazing areas actually show the best grass regrowth. This is a big deal because these semi-arid rangelands have to deal with really unpredictable rainfall. Traditionally, pastoralists have kept these lands healthy by moving their herds around wit
Imagine you're a comet, braving the fiery dance with the sun. That's what Comet C/2024 S1 tried to do. Discovered in September, this icy wanderer earned itself the nickname "Halloween comet" due to its timing. But as it got closer to the sun, things started to get hot. Really hot. Like, so hot that
