The paddock sizes have ranged from eight acres to thirty acres for one day of grazing. The three rotations averaged of 2100 lbs of dry matter per acre in rotation one, 1700 lbs of dry matter in rotation two, and 1350 lbs of dry matter in rotation three. Rotation one took forty-four days, rotation two thirty-seven days, and rotation three approximately twenty days.

The pasture averaged 416 lbs. of DM/ac. of regrowth between the first and second rotations, and 75 lbs. of DM/ac. of regrowth between the second and third rotation. The drop in regrowth comes from the lack of precipitation.

The cattle have gained weight from 950 lbs. to an average of 1200 lbs., and have improved their body condition score from a 3.5 to 5. The cows have also improved their disposition.

By using management intensive grazing the Karlen Family Partnership improved their AUM's per acre by .53 AUM's per acre, with an additional average annual cost of $8.40, over a control pasture that uses continuous grazing. That figures to about $15.82 per AUM for using the management intensive grazing system.

Also, we must take into consideration the immeasurable effects including long term plant community improvement, increased monitoring of cattle, increased wildlife, increased bull power, and better cattle disposition. And the negative effects, like time taking away from other tasks (the opportunity cost), and the loss capital to start a management intensive grazing system.

As with any operation there were a few problems this year with the management intensive grazing system. Most of the problems focused on the water system. At first there was too little pressure to push up the hill from the well to the pipe on the ground in the pasture.

By adding another well, there was more than enough pressure to push the hill; however, this pressure was too much with the combination of the new well, which spit on sand for the tanks. The sandy, high-pressure water would cause the tanks to slightly overflow in a few areas, which would tear up the ground in front of the tank

We have had a lightning death this summer and lost a few calves to shipping fever at the beginning of the grazing season. The cattle have broken out of the poly wire fence a few times, but only because they wanted on a nearby dam that they had been drinking out of for a few days, or because the wire was down and they had not been moved at the right time.

The demonstration tour was held on August 13, 2001 at 9:00 AM at the Karlen Family Partnership. We had a great success with approximately seventy-five producers and guests attending.

A presentation was given about the demonstration with many questions from the audience. Farm Credit services of America served lunch following the tour.