Mark Sip Grassland Management Project

2003 Report Sip Grassland Management Project
Back to Sip Homepage There was an abundance of available forage, at the beginning of the 2003 grazing season. There was 3,750 pounds of available forage in pasture 4, which, theoretically, would allow 3-acre pastures per day.
After the permanent transects were observed and annual data was collected on May 23rd, the cattle were turned into the management intensive grazing system. On June 7, 2003, Mark brought 146 yearling steers onto the site weighing an average of 712 pounds. They quickly adjusted to their surroundings and barriers, at first they did not respect the poly-wire cross fences that formed the pasture.
	To make it through the an entire rotation in 40 days, approximately 5 acres per day was allowed. The steers completed the first rotation in 39 days and the second in 33 days. Mark was hoping for an average daily gain of 1.75 pounds. With ample rain and the amount of grass available, the daily gain seemed very promising. Once the steers began the rotation, an immediate gain in body condition; they scored a 6 on the body condition scale. Even though there was plenty of forage, the steers were always eager to move onto a new grazing allotment. Back grazing was not an issue.
The water system is set up using 3,500 feet of above ground black PE pipe which connect two 800-gallon water tanks to a rural water tap. Each tank serves four pastures. When Sip moved the poly-wire fence for the new paddock, the steers would see him and the majority of the time, run to the “new” grass. If you looking across the pasture, there would be a distinct line where the fence was compared to where the steers currently were-in the new pasture, grazing.
	A water sample where a creek comes on to the system and a sample where it leaves the system are collected. The samples are required by the grant that funds the demonstration sites. The grant is an EPA Clean Water Act Section 319 grant provided by South Dakota to the Grasslands Coalition. Infiltration rates are also measured. On one of the transects the 2nd inch went in 23 minutes faster when the rate is compared to the previous year.
This year’s grazing season went from June to August. There was a total of 11.4 inches of precipitation. The steers were consistently gaining up until about two weeks before they were sold. When the steers were sold August 22nd, they weighed 883 pounds for an average daily gain of 1.7 pounds.
	Seventy-five people attended a tour at the site on July 17, 2003. The tour was held in conjunction with the South Dakota Grasslands Coalition summer tour which included the Karlen and Faulstich demonstration sites as well.
The management intensive grazing demonstration site is definitely improving as Sip is experimenting and finding different techniques that work better on his system. This was the second year for the demonstration site, Mark feels that the economic goals are being met with a little intensive management.