Ranching farms, or ranches, are a specific type of farm focused on raising and herding animals such as cattle, sheep, and horses, and sometimes elk or bison, over a large area of land to support their herds. However, the size can vary significantly from a few hundred to thousands of acres. Unlike traditional farms that primarily grow crops, a ranch's primary economic focus is managing, breeding, and selling animals for meat or wool. A key part of a rancher's responsibility is taking care of the animals, managing the land and resources, and maintaining the land to ensure there is enough grass and water for the livestock to graze, including soil and rainwater management. While the primary purpose of ranchers is livestock, spending most of their time on activities like breeding, raising, herding, and selling their livestock, many ranches also grow crops like hay or alfalfa to feed their animals, but this is often a secondary activity to animal husbandry.