The primary environmental impact of large cattle ranching in the U.S. is overgrazing, which can lead to desertification and land degradation.

In the United States, extensive cattle ranching has a major negative influence on the ecosystem, especially when it comes to overgrazing. Cattle can harm plant roots and stop vegetation from growing back when they graze a lot on the same piece of ground. This causes soil erosion and compaction, which over time can lead to desertification, or the conversion of fertile land into dry, arid soil. In areas of the Great Plains and the Western United States, this process is especially worrisome. Due to the displacement of native flora and animals, overgrazing also lowers biodiversity. Rotational grazing is one sustainable ranching technique being investigated to lessen these adverse impacts and reestablish the health of the ecosystem.