Cattle ranching is one of Arizona’s original Five C’s, along with citrus, cotton, copper and climate.Ranchers still graze cattle on Arizona’s rangelands, but are wary about urban growth and lawsuits from environmental groups.Outside investors have changed the landscape for some ranchers, who have seen vineyards replace grazing lands and out-of-state owners change priorities.SAN RAFAEL VALLEY, Ariz. — Manuel Murrietta climbed onto his four-seat all-terrain vehicle and pointed a finger west across the dry grassland in the direction of the Patagonia Range to show the horseback riders where the cows and calves were bunched up.It was early May, time to castrate and brand the young ones, and this was the only day that his neighbors and friends could all pitch in to help drive them a couple of canyons south and work them into a corral there. He and others would reciprocate next time their families needed help with ranch chores.“These boys all rodeo,” the rancher said, explaining why the roundup couldn’t wait until a couple of weeks later when the herd — 135 at last count — had exhausted its time and grass in this pasture. “It just happened to be the only weekend we could all get together.” …
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