optimum stocking rate, monitoring, and flexibility: key...
TRANSCRIPT
Optimum Stocking Rate, Monitoring,
and Flexibility: Key components of
Successful Grazing Management
J. A. Ortega, S.D. Lukefahr, and F.C. Bryant
Grazing management, how long have we been working on it?
Grazing Management
art and science
Grazing management, how long have we been working on it?
Grazing management, how long have we been working on it?
Grazing management, how long have we been working on it?
Grazing management, how long have we been working on it?
SUCCESFUL GRAZING MANAGEMENT PLANS
• Objectives clearly defined
• Proper stocking rate
• Effective Monitoring
GRAZING MANAGEMENT PLANS
Flexibility!!
The Only Thing That Is Constant Is Change
Heraclitus
Flexibility!!
“The biggest problem for me is that I can never come up with a grazing plan that I can stay with- I am continually changing grazing rotations, time, and stock numbers… but that is one of the reasons that this program works. It is not a system. It is a continually changing program that moves with weather, livestock, and markets”
Frank Price, Rangelands 31 (5):5
FLEXIBLILITY!!
GRAZING MANAGEMENT PLANS
Stocking Rate Stocking rate is the most overwhelming
factor affecting the results of a grazing
management program independently of the
grazing method
Carrying capacity/Correct stocking rate
• One of the most important goals of a grazing management
program is to manage the ranch @ carrying capacity
How difficult could that be?
Carrying capacity/Correct SR
VARIATION
SPACE
• Ranch to Ranch
• Pasture to Pasture
TIME
• Year to Year
• Season to Season
South Texas
Climatic
Challenges
Changes in
Production
Systems
Grazing and Pasture
Management 1994-2001:
• Continuous grazing
• Overstocking
• Fertilization and aeration of pastures
• Minimal brush management
• Feeding hay
• The manager was often times out of forage!!!
Actions
1) Adjusting stocking rate to match forage availability
2) Eliminating the need for feeding hay
3) Utilizing appropriate cattle breeds via crossbreeding to
cope with the adverse environment
4) Creating opportunities for developing local niche markets
to increase profits
General Management:
• Commercial crossbred cow-calf operation
• Own/Lease land (Over 90% leased for ag
value)
• No hay or grain/Limited supplementation
Grazing and Pasture
Management 2001-2008:
• Reduction of SR to match forage availability
(41%)
• Rotational grazing (25 pastures)
• No hay feeding
• Stockpiling forage in pastures
• Close monitoring of pasture responses
• Flexibility to move cattle
Monitoring
Monitoring
Monitoring
Monitoring
Monitoring
Monitoring and Flexibility
Drought 2009
Month Rainfall Forage
availability lb/ac
BCS
October 08 July-Aug.
7 inches
4460 6 or
higher
April 09 0 2346 5.7
August 09 0 1427 5.7
October 08
4460 lb/ac
April 09
2346 lb/ac
August 09
1427 lb/ac
Herd Management 2001-2008:
• Late spring/Early winter breeding seasons
• Wean at 6-7 months following rain via fence-line
weaning
• No antibiotics, growth implants or deworming of
calves
• Produce female replacements mostly by Artificial
Insemination
• Moderate cow size (BW of 1,100 lbs/ frame size 4 to
5)
Red Angus Senepol
Tuli
Crossbreeding Program
Crossbreeding Program Senepol-sired calf as a cow with her Tuli-sired AI calf
Tuli-sired calf as a cow with her Red Angus-sired AI calf
Red Angus-sired cow with her Senepol-sired AI calf
The Product
We do not have to worry
about aggressiveness
Item 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
Stocking rate (ac/AU) 3.4 5.8 6.6 8.4 5.7 4.7 6.0 5.2
Weaned wt/Cow (lb) 436 585 586 608 527 511 551 562
Calf Market Value ($) 339 417 501 606 553 539 568 543
Brush Manag./ac ($) 0 21 26 15 8 5 3 8
Feed Cost/Cow ($) 291 214 65 94 103 71 45 41
Lease Cost/Cow ($)** 65 117 127 184 122 91 118 103
Maint. Cost/Cow ($) 144 168 209 180 212 125 137 116
Total Costs ($) 530 526 419 481 456 313 337 291
Market-based Net
Profit/ac ($) -53 -18 12 12 14 45 40 44
Market-based Net
Profit/COW ($) -191 -110 82 125 97 226 230 252
Productivity, Expenses, and Profits of a Cow-Calf
Grazing Operation in South Texas.
Figure 1. Market-based net profit
per acre trend over eight years.
-60
-40
-20
0
20
40
60
2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
$Actual Trend
CONCLUSIONS
•Results of this case study demonstrate that proper
grazing and forage management with careful monitoring
and maximum flexibility - in combination with a good
cattle breeding program - can improve pasture
conditions that increase profits in a sustainable manner.
•The breeds utilized – Red Angus, Senepol, and Tuli – are
available to industry, although other breeds may be
suitable.
•Beef producers must be patient to allow time for
pastures to recover from previous managerial abuses.
Does it work?
What if it does not rain?
Results of proper grazing and beef cattle
management practices on productivity and
profitability of a commercial operation in
south Texas in the severe drought of 2009
and the extremely severe drought of 2011
and 2012.
Between October 2008 and June 2009, only
about 75 mm of rainfall was received, and
by August 24, 2009, total rainfall was only
20% of normal with a cumulative total of
only 93 mm for the year.
As stated by Bryant (2009), the most recent
serious drought between the October and
June period occurred in 1952 and 1953
when precipitation was 165 mm, which was
about 30% more than what was received in
2009.
In this area, close to 50% of forage
production occurs during the spring (April
to June), therefore, forage production was
severely affected by the drought.
In severe droughts, such as in 2009,
energy-protein supplements (whole
cottonseeds and cottonseed range cubes)
were provided from March through August
to maintain body condition scores of cows.
Based on the amount of stockpiled forage in
October 2009, the decision was made to
lease approximately 100 ac of additional
pastures to decrease grazing pressure and
maintain body condition scores in cattle .
Based on the amount of stockpiled forage in
October 2009, the decision was made to
lease approximately 100 ac of additional
pastures to decrease grazing pressure and
maintain body condition scores in cattle .
October 08, 4410 lb/ac October 09, 2646 lb/ac
•Monitoring
•Flexibility • Adjustments
• Timely decisions
JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC TOTAL
2012 0.19 5.43 0.83 1.15 2.32 2.8 1.12 0.30 1.95 0.09 16.2
2011 3.44 0.01 0.21 0 2.52 0.37 0.25 0 0.9 0.38 0.29 1.36 9.7
2010 4.33 3.86 1 4.95 2.76 3.1 9.12 0.71 14 0 0.3 0.17 44.7
2009 0.25 0.16 0.46 0.14 1 0.4 0.12 1.03 12 2.6 1.65 4.81 24.7
2008 2.21 0.22 0.12 1.77 0.97 0.68 8.31 4.56 7.6 0.9 0.37 0.29 28
Rainfall
In 16 months from October 2010 to
February 2012, approximately, 10 inches
of rainfall
October 08, 4460 lb/ac October 09, 2646 lb/ac
October 11, 1764 lb/ac October 12, 988 lb/ac
Present Pasture Conditions:
Cow Body Condition:
Cow Body Condition:
Item 2001 2008 2009 2010 2011
Stocking rate (ac/AU) 3.4 5.2 6.0 8.0 7.4
Weaned wt/Cow (lb) 436 562 609 540 551
Calf Market Value ($) 339 543 610 554 637
Brush Manag./ac ($) 0 8 16 1 3
Feed Cost/Cow ($) 291 41 185 44 44
Lease Cost/Cow ($) 65 103 93 227 154
Maint. Cost/Cow ($) 144 116 122 80 134
Total Costs ($) 530 291 411 370 282
Market-based Net Profit/ac ($) -53 44 26 17 38
Market-based Net Profit/cow ($) -191 252 199 185 288
Productivity, Expenses, and Profits of a Cow-Calf
Grazing Operation in South Texas.
Can we make money in a
drought?
Do we have to lose our
herd?
•Monitoring
•Flexibility
•A proper grazing management program, including
a moderate stocking rate, stockpiling forage for
winter and droughts, and the flexibility to adjust
the grazing plan, can make the difference between
making a profit and losing your herd.
•Timely decision making based on an effective
monitoring program is the key to survive even
serious droughts.
•Even when profit per cow and per acre were
reduced during the drought of 2009, it was
possible to maintain pasture conditions, body
condition scores, and cattle productivity, and
even more important the integrity of the plant
community.
CONCLUSIONS
October 2010
100 ac more leased
4234 lb/ac
????????
• We retained bull calves for 4 months
more instead of selling at weaning
• We bought 20 stockers in December
2010.
• 10 steers
• 10 heifers
• The bull calves from the ranch were
retained 4 months more.
• Weight increased: 54 lb
• Total cost: $ 80
• Additional profit: $ 42
On the 10 steers we bought in December
2010.
• Weight increased: 67 lb
• Total cost: $ 68
• Net profit: $ 35
We bought @ $1.08 we sold @ $1.18
On the 10 heifers we bought in December
2010 and sold in June 27 2011.
• Weight increased: 126 lb
• Total cost: $ 92
• Net profit: $ 103
We bought @ $1.02 we sold @ $1.18
A proportional portion of the lease costs
were considered as part of the costs for
the stockers, therefore, the lease
expenses for 2011 for the mother cows
were reduced by $40 per cow.
Does it work?
FLEXIBILITY
Plan, Implement, Adjust
and Adapt, Monitor,
Make it work !!
Accomplish objectives!!
A few things to think about
A few things to think about
• Profitability of cow-calf operations
• East Texas $28/cow/year, Texas average
$15/cow/year
• If somebody wants to take $2000/month
pay check = $24,000 income per year
would need to have about 850 mother cows
• Cattle is not the only thing ranching
produces:
• Clean air and water
• Carbon sequestration