Working With Nature. Protecting What Matters. Meets action.
Cows at Work is an educational initiative that explores how carefully managed cattle grazing supports healthy grasslands, thriving wildlife, and resilient Alberta landscapes.
Our Approach
Conservation Through Collaboration
Healthy landscapes don’t happen by accident—they’re the result of thoughtful, long-term stewardship.
At Cows at Work, we believe sustainable grazing is one of many important tools used to care for Alberta’s natural spaces. Through science-based management and strong partnerships between ranchers and conservation professionals, grazing helps maintain healthy ecosystems while protecting the places people love to explore.
Our goal is simple: help visitors understand why cattle are here, how grazing benefits the land, and why conservation and agriculture can work hand in hand.
Working With Nature, One Season at a Time
Healthy grasslands depend on balance.
Rather than allowing vegetation to become overgrown, carefully managed grazing mimics natural processes that have shaped these landscapes for thousands of years. As cattle move across the land, they help maintain diverse plant communities, recycle nutrients, and reduce excess vegetation that can contribute to wildfire risk.
Every grazing plan is carefully monitored to support both healthy ecosystems and responsible land stewardship.
Built on Stewardship
Protecting Alberta’s landscapes takes collaboration.
Ranchers, park managers, scientists, Indigenous communities, and conservation organizations each play an important role in caring for these shared spaces. By working together, they help ensure grasslands remain productive, wildlife habitats stay healthy, and future generations can continue enjoying Alberta’s incredible parks.
Why Cows Matter.
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Healthy Grasslands
Managed grazing removes selected plant growth while leaving enough cover for recovery. This helps maintain productive, diverse grasslands and supports the long-term health of the range.
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Plant Diversity
Strategic grazing can help manage excess vegetation and limit some undesirable plants. Timing, stocking rates, and pasture recovery are carefully planned to protect native plant communities.
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Wildfire Resilience
By consuming some of the grasses and vegetation that can dry out later in the season, cattle may help reduce fine fuels and create a more varied landscape for wildfire management.
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Wildlife Habitat
A mix of grazed and ungrazed vegetation creates different plant heights and habitat conditions, providing food, shelter, and nesting opportunities for a variety of wildlife.