Land/Pasture Management
To see our 2021 annual sustainability report highlighting our ongoing work,
Kualoa has around 1500 grazing acres for our herd of about 500 cattle. Land/pasture management is integral to our grass-fed beef operation and protecting our cattle’s food source. Stewardship staff help in maintaining forage for cattle across the ranch. Staff use mechanical and chemical control to remove invasive woody trees from invaded pastures. High value grasses are then planted to diversify cattle diet and suppress woody weeds. Livestock grazing helps maintain the land by slowing down the growth of non-native weeds.
Silvopasture is the deliberate integration of trees and grazing livestock operations on the same land. The Ranch aims to restore native canopy in pasture areas that are frequently grazed on by cattle. Koas are particularly tasty to cows so we individually fence our koa trees to prevent grazing or destruction in pastures. Some of our trees have been propagated on the ranch; additionally, trees are sourced from the Hawaii Agriculture Research Center (HARC). HARC trees grow stronger/quicker and they are more often resistant to pests. Cages are removed once the trees are tall enough to avoid grazing and once the trunk is thick enough to withstand weight from cattle without breaking.
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