Faulstich Grassland Management Project

2005 Report Faulstich Grassland Management Project
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2005 Daybreak Ranch Management-Intensive Grazing Project
In 2005, Jim and Carol Faulstich, along with Adam and Jacquie Roth (son-in-law and daughter), began their sixth year of managing an intensive grazing system on the Daybreak Ranch near Highmore, South Dakota.
When adverse weather conditions prevail, traditional management practices must be altered to increase the productivity of grassland resources. In 2000, Daybreak Ranch implemented a management intensive grazing system with the intent of increasing forage production, biodiversity, and grazing distribution. The key to this successful system is rotation grazing practices that allow the grasses time to regenerate after being grazed.
	Utilizing available resources to optimize production, the ranch now employs a 320-acre, 21-pasture grazing system. The system’s forage base consists of a variety of native and introduced, cool and warm season grasses, primarily comprised of Kentucky Bluegrass, Smooth Bromegrass, Crested Wheatgrass, Western Wheatgrass, Green Needle, and Switchgrass.

On September 3rd, a prairie fire ignited on the south edge of pasture 20, the fire then fanned out and spread north, eventually burning approximately 120 acres on 10 of the 21 pastures. Water tanks and above ground pipes showed little damage from the fire, but fiberglass posts and polywire were melted. Shortly after the fire the regeneration of vegetation was evident by the green mat, consisting of primarily Smooth Bromegrass.


Faulstich’s heifers entered the system weighing an average of 884 pounds each. At the close of the season, following 143 days of rotation grazing, the heifers had an average end weight of 980 pounds, an individual average weight gain of 94 pounds, and an Average Daily Gain of 0.65 pounds. When the heifers were pregnancy checked by palpation at the final weighing on September 30th, only six heifers were determined open, giving the herd a conception rate of 93%, with a bull to heifer ratio of 1 to 22. Jim Faulstich has employed genetics to reduce the size of his mature cows. His objective is to have significant growth during a heifer’s first year, followed by a decreased growth rate and a lower Average Daily Gain. By achieving an ADG of 0.65 pounds and incorporating planned grazing the Daybreak Ranch has been able to support more cattle while using fewer resources.