Faulstich Grazing Demonstration Project

2001 Report Faulstich Grassland Management Project
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The Jim and Carol Faulstich ranch, Highmore, South Dakota began their second year of managing a 320 acre, 21- pasture intensive grazing system, on May 12, 2001.
	In 2001, the Faulstich ranch is grazing 108 head of crossbred Red Angus, South Devon, and Hereford 14 to 15 month old replacement heifers. The heifer's average weight on May 12, 2001, was 784 pounds. The 320 acre pasture has silty, clayey, and claypan soils. The average annual precipitation is 16-18 inches with April through July averaging approximately 9 inches over the last 30 years.
"The heifers move smoothly, they come up to the fence everytime I go out to the pasture. They are always eager to move. Jim just opens the end of the fence and they go right through" said Matt Odden, summer intern for the MiG project.
	Approximately two (2) inches of rain were received in Hyde County in both May and June of 2001 The rain was not enough to make the water run. "I took a look at some of the pastures we had grazed early and they are looking great. The grass is growing like mad and I have noticed a lot of wild flowers in the earliest pastures grazed. Jim turned the bulls in with the heifers this week." said Odden.
Prior to the 2001 grazing season, the Faulstich Ranch installed additional water lines and fences so that the riparian areas surrounding the pond will not be grazed. The riparian zones recovered well in 2001.
	The Faulstich's "DayBreak Ranch" tour was held on July 24th,2001. Approximately 50 people attended. Following lunch, sponsored by Farm Credit Services, visitors listened to presentations by Jim Faulstich and Matt Odden, and toured the pastures.
Conditions became dry in July with only 1/4 inch of rain for the month. "It is early August and things are getting dry here. We really need some rain soon. Pasture growth has slowed down due to lack of moisture. However, pastures still look pretty good right now." said Odden.
	The results of the early August fecal sample show crude protein at 6.15%. This is the lowest we have seen over the two year period. The NutBal program was used to analyze the information from the fecal samples, which indicated that the heifers are not yet losing body weight. However, the limiting factor switched from energy earlier in the rotation to crude protein in August.
NutBal information showed the heifers have gained 195 pounds averaging 2.08 pounds per day. Forage checks with the pasture stick show all the paddocks have about 1200 - 1250 pounds of forage remaining.
On-ranch demonstrations at Faulstich's and five other locations in South Dakota are being conducted to showcase the economic and environmental benefits of and monitor changes resulting from use of rotational grazing systems. Information gained on this project is shared with others through tours, news releases, this web site, grazing schools, and local rancher workshops.