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By Dan Rasmussen
July 2024
The South Dakota Grassland Coalition recently sponsored a webinar with guests Alejandro Carrillo and Jim Faulstich. Alejandro ranches in the state of Chihuahua, Mexico and Jim ranches near Highmore, South Dakota.
Clay Conry, of Working Cows Podcast, moderated the webinar. Clay initially asked each rancher how they manage drought on their ranches. Then participants in the webinar followed up with questions for Jim and Alejandro.
Clay asked Alejandro to begin by describing his drought plan:
- – Managing for diversity. Alejandro explained he is managing to increase perennial grasses. This is done by moving 600 or more cow/calf pairs in one herd every day.
- – Adjusting cow numbers so as to have “more grass than cattle”. During a drought, this is done monthly, always removing the poorest cattle.
- – Allowing for 12 to 18 months rest for each pasture.
- – Grazing each pasture at a different time the following year.
- – Goal of keeping 12 months grass ahead of the cattle.
- – Maintaining a cow herd that is adapted to the land and management style.
Alejandro went on to explain there is a delicate balance between helping the land and maintaining cow condition. When moving on a daily basis the cows need to be moved to fresh grass when they are ready. For this to be profitable the cows need to be adapted to the land. Alejandro said, “The cows will tell you when to move. If you do not supplement with protein during the dormant season, you cannot force your cows.”
Next, Clay asked Jim to explain his Drought Plan:
- – Practicing rotational grazing year round. Allowing for adequate recovery for all plants in the pasture.
- – Goal is to promote diversity of species in rangeland. Jim manages for a wide range of cool season andwarm season perennial grasses and forbs. This diversity provides resistance to drought and healthier soil.
- – Pursuing diversity of ranch enterprises: Examples on the Daybreak Ranch include: custom yearlings, cow/calf pairs, hunting (pheasant and deer), and flexible stocking rates. Jim destocks by adjusting number of custom yearlings on the ranch.
Jim explains, “Diverse enterprises need to be complimentary. It all boils down to being profitable.” For example, good grazing planning results in healthy rangeland, which provides abundant habitat for wildlife which opens the door to a hunting enterprise.
A webinar participant asked each of the two ranchers, “How much grass do you leave behind the cows?’ Alejandro explains on one day moves with 12 to 18 months rest he plans to take as much grass as the cows will allow. Qualifying this by explaining, it depends on the season. Alejandro then gave his definition of overgrazing: “Overgrazing is leaving the cows in a pasture too long or coming back too soon”.
He described coming back to the pasture too soon in a rotational grazing plan as “rotational overgrazing”.
Answering the question: “How much grass do you leave behind the cows”, Jim explains, It depends on the season and the resource. In early summer in their brome grass pastures, Jim likes to take most of the available forage, in mid summer on their predominately warm season pastures, they will leave more grass behind the cows. Both ranchers commented on how they always planned to graze so the land had some regrowth by fall for protection of the soil.
Clay asked both ranchers how they monitor and plan for dry years on their ranch.
Jim began by saying, “I look very hard at the moisture condition in October. This will often tell us what the next year is going to be like. Next, I look at moisture in April.” These are Jim’s trigger dates for planning stock numbers and feed for the next year.
Jim warns others to be very careful before deciding to feed through a drought.
Alejandro replied, “We walk each pasture in the fall to determine the amount of dormant forage available until the arrival of the summer rains. Then we cull or add to the herd based on this inventory.” During the growing season, Alejandro, regularly assesses the forage base to help with culling decisions.
Both ranchers summarized by explaining the positive changes they have seen on their ranches since beginning their own unique style of regenerative resource management. Alejandro and Jim agreed an increase in diversity of rangeland plants led the list of positive improvements to their land. Both ranchers commented on the increase in water infiltration rates on their ranches results in more rainwater staying on their land ultimately extending the “green” season.
You can view the full webinar recording HERE.
Source: July 2024 Newsletter