Carlson Grassland Management Project

2003 Report
Carlson Grassland Management Project

A Management Intensive Grazing (MIG) system was started two miles northwest of Hetland, SD by Scott Carlson on May 14, 2003. Data collected on the system includes forage weights and heights; fecal samples to determine crude protein, digestible organic matter, nitrogen and phosphorus; photo points; soil samples; water samples; and wildlife populations.
	The site consists of 168 acres of native grass pasture. Some development was needed in order to make the site suitable for a rotational grazing system. Cross fences were constructed on approximately 126 acres to provide 4 cells for grazing to go along with the 42 acre pasture. The producer installed a 2 wire high tensile electric fence.
Water development was needed and the producer installed pipe from an existing pasture tap near the road to the center of the pasture. A small area with a water tank was located to provide use by four pastures on the north side of the road. One large black tire tank was installed with a float.
	The producer stocked the pasture gradually, beginning May 14th with 44 head of cow/calf pairs and 2 bulls. The cattle were crossbred Angus and Gelbvieh with some Hereford influenced cows. Grazing began in the southwest pasture designated SW pasture. The cattle were moved to the northwest corner pasture and this was NW pasture. The northeast pasture was assigned as NE pasture, the southeast as SE pasture, and the pasture south of the road was assigned as the SS pasture. The NW, SW, NE and SE pastures were all approximately 32 acres in size while the SS pasture was approximately 42 acres. See Map
The producer established a set size rotational system, the days in each pasture were determined by forage availability. Days on a given pasture ranged from 7-14 days, allowing a recovery period for each pasture of at least 28 days. While most of the grasses on the north side of the road were bluegrass and bromegrass, the south pasture has more diverse vegetation. Species found in the south pasture include purple prairie clover, big bluestem, sideoats grama, blue grama, silver leaf scurfpea, tall dropseed, prairie cordgrass, sedge, wild rose, flase boneset, alfalfa, western wheatgrass, buffalo grass, and cudweed sagewort.
A dominant feature of the Carlson grazing system is the drainage pattern of the pastures. A large draw runs from the far northeast corner across the road through the south pasture (pasture #1) and out the far southwest corner of the system. It drains into Lake Preston located less than a 1/2 mile away. A water sample was taken from the draw during early May. There was two feet of water in the draw all of last summer, the draw dried up very early this grazing season. Two dugouts one on each side of the road, previously provided the water source for the pastures . However the tank on the north side was a major benefit for the producer as the north dugout went dry during early July.
Fecal sampling is an important component of the system. It allows the producer to have knowledge of the quality of forage available on the system. Fecal samples were collected from mid May through September. Crude protein averaged 11.49% with a range from 8.94% July 18th to 20.13% on May 29th. Digestible organic matter averaged 64.14% with a range of 59.58% on August 1st to 68.42% on May 9th. Fecal nitrogen ranged from 1.16% to 2.28% with the average at 1.47%. Fecal phosphorus averaged 0.59% with a range from 0.48% to a high of 0.70%. Crude protein and digestible organic matter actually reflect the values of the forage being consumed by the livestock. During the extremely dry periods of the summer, crude protein levels were very low. Fecal Data Table
Forage availability was monitored closely. Grass clippings were collected before cattle were grazed and after removal from each paddock. Green weights and dry weights of each of the clippings were recorded along with data on average plant heights. The average weight per inch of plant was calculated to give the producer a general idea of the forage production of each pasture. Forage Data Table
Songbirds were monitored on the grazing system. Species observed on the Carlson site included the Grasshopper Sparrow, Western Meadowlark, Savannah Sparrow, Clay-colored Sparrow, Eastern Kingbird, Song Sparrow, and Killdeer. Numerous duck species were common on the grazing system as well.
This system has possibilities for flexibility in the future. Due to the variable condition of the pasture, a polywire could be used to restrict cattle to smaller areas in each pasture. A variety of existing barriers and crossfences could be removed to prevent patch grazing within pastures. Every grazing system must be managed to meet the needs of the producer and meet their specific production and grazing goals. This system leaves the producer with a sound investment that allows him to extend the grazing season without severe damage during dry years. The producer also has plans to re-seed thin areas of the pastures. Management Intensive Grazing (MIG) helps cattle producers acheive maximum productivity from the pasture system.
Project partners include the South Dakota Association of Conservation Districts, the South Dakota Grassland Coalition, South Dakota State University, United States Fish and Wildlife Service, the South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks, South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources, South Dakota Department of Agriculture, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, the Lower James RC & D, and the Kingsbury County Conservation District.