Livestock management is likely the most important practice affecting wildlife in the Post Oak Savannah. Luckily, land can be managed both for cattle and wildlife quite effectively. Historically, this region formed as a grazed ecosystem, with herds of hundreds of bison moving across the landscape, grazing and trampling vegetation and dispersing seeds. 

Though the ecosystem is well adapted to grazing, in the past, bison ranged over large expanses of habitat, allowing any one area time to recover. This can be replicated by rotating cattle between multiple native grass pastures, allowing cattle high quality, sustainable forage while providing wildlife habitat. 

Cattle stocked at or below Natural Resources Conservation Service rates, generally speaking, means: one animal unit (cow with calf) per 8 – 15 acres on native grass; 3 – 6 acres on tame pastures (bermudagrass/bahia grass); 50 – 75 acres on wooded areas.

To learn more about livestock management in the Post Oak Savannah:

https://tpwd.texas.gov/landwater/land/habitats/post_oak/habitat_management/cow/

To learn more about managing for both cattle and deer in the Post Oak Savannah:

https://tpwd.texas.gov/publications/pwdpubs/media/pwd_lf_w7000_0237.pdf