Carlson Grassland Management Project

2003 Project Report
2004 Project Report
2005 Project Report

Scott Carlson started his management intensive grazing system May 9th, 2002. The system has a set paddock design on 168 acres of established pasture. Fifty-nine head of cow-calf pairs stock the system which is located 2 miles northwest of Hetland, SD.
	An important aspect of any grazing system is adequate water. Development on the Carlson system in Kingsbury County included installing a water line into the center of the pasture so one water tank could be used by four cells.
Fresh water is more desirable to the cattle and has contributed to improved weight gains in calves. The Carlson water system consists of a large tire tank with three posts and crossboards to prevent calves from getting in the tank and also reduces contamination. A float connected to the water source ensures the cattle have a constant supply.
	Adding a new water source proved to be a valuable investment to the producer when the dugout in the pasture dried up mid-way through the grazing season.
The system was stocked with 59 cow/calf pairs. The cattle are mostly Angus-Gelvieh crossbreds with some Hereford influenced cows. The cattle began the grazing season with an average Body Condition Score of 4.5 and aged between 3-7 years. The calves had an approximate date of birth of April 1st.
	Monitoring included collecting forage weights and heights, taken before and after occupation of each paddock. Because the size of the paddocks on the Carlson system is set, the number of days each paddock is grazed during each rotation is variable. The forage data was used to determine the grazing periods for each pen.
Soil samples can be helpful in determining if fertilizer is needed. They canlso be used to evaluate soil health. Organic matter percentages on the Carlson system were very good. The Carlson system has two very rich, highly productive soil types - Poinsett and Waubay.
	Infiltration rates were measured by placing a metal ring in the ground and timing how long it took to absorb one inch of water. Infiltration on the Carlson system was highly variable, ranging from 5 minutes and 22 seconds to over twenty minutes across the project area. A second inch of water was sometimes held for long periods of time.

	Two permanent photo points were set up on the system to track long-term effects of the grazing system on different soil types.
Adequate rest is an essential part of any grazing system. The Carlson rotation allowed for at least 28 days rest between grazing periods. This rest period allowed regrowth of forage, sometimes at a rate of 50 lbs/day.