Blair Brothers Grassland Management Project

2004 Report Blair Brothers Grassland Management Project
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The Blair Brothers Ranch has participated in managed-intensive grazing through the Grassland Management and Planning Project for three years. During 2004, the managed grazing system was on 3,292 acres of Meade County grassland that is divided into six pastures with a forage base comprised of native and introduced grasses with a mix of legumes. The cool season grasses are predominantly Kentucky Bluegrass, Western Wheatgrass and Crested Wheatgrass.
The topography of the land, which ranges from rolling hills to slopes greater than 30 degrees in some pastures, presents a management challenge. During the 2004 season, 355 cow/calf pairs were initially rotated quickly through the six pastures. Once the pairs completed one rotation, the time the cattle spent in each pasture was increased. The rotations are based on pasture size and growth rate of the grass, with an average grazing period of 5-7 days in each pasture.
			Throughout the summer, fecal samples were collected and tested to determine if the forage the cattle consumed was adequate to maintain body condition and provide satisfactory weight gain. Samples were tested for crude protein, digestible organic matter, nitrogen and phosphorus. Forage production was also monitored through sampling. Forage samples were clipped in each paddock prior to the livestock being moved into a pasture, and then clipped again after the livestock were moved out. The samples were dried and weighed to determine pounds per acre. The majority of the time the cattle were consuming about half of the forage available.
Above normal temperatures and below normal precipitation provided a challenge during the 2004-grazing season. But during this drought season, the quality and quantity of stock water has not been a primary concern for the ranch.

While most pastures have stock dams, the Blair's prefer that the cattle drink well water out of watering tanks, which are filled before cattle are rotated into the pasture. The tanks provide high quality well water that is superior to the water found in the stock dams, and quality water can lead to improved weight gains. Although some tanks provide a watering center for several pastures, most pastures have only one source of water at one end of the pasture. Because of the difficult topography of the land and high summer temperatures, cattle may be unwilling to graze too far away from the water source. Thus, forage at the far end of the pastures is not always fully utilized.			The Blair's prefer that cattle drink well water out of water tanks like the one pictured here.
			In Mid July, 2004, the South Dakota Grasslands Coalition hosted a two-day bus tour western South Dakota. One of the tour stops was the Blair demonstration site north of the town of Sturgis. Approximately 85 people attended the tour at the Blair Brothers Ranch. Pictured left is Ed Blair, addressing the group before looking at the pastures.
Lavern Koch (right), South Dakota Grasslands Coalition Chairman, talks with a fellow tour attendee.			Cattle grazing on the Blair Ranch Meade County, SD