Observations from Assisting Cattle Ranchers

Using TGM

Rob Ravenscroft

Agren, Inc.

Carroll, Iowa

Projects: USDA-RMA

Learn from users Improve usability of TGM

NRCS-CIG (Sandhills Task Force, Nebraska)

Sustain sandhills ranching families and natural resources

Agren's Activities:

USDA_RMA Group introduction & training May, '05 Ranch visits and telephone assistance,

summer '05 Group review & wrap-up, January, '06

Sandhills project begun, '06

On-Ranch Visits: Ranch setup

Pasture production Cattle numbers Grazing schedules

TGM use Grazing and Livestock numbers updated Forage utilization estimated Growing conditions evaluated Learning to use the decision support

features of TGM

TGM Inputs (review):

Pasture production (Demand Days) Animal demand (Demand Days)

Numbers, Weights & Gain Grazing Schedule

Forage utilization (observed) Growing conditions (adjusted curve)

Difficulties Ranchers Experience with TGM

Resistance to “Demand Days” More familiar with AUMs Degree is relative to familiarity with AUMs

Evaluating Forage Utilization and Growing Conditions

How to quantify utilization? What level of accuracy is needed?

Observations & Conclusions Demand Days concept can be grasped

and accepted TGM most useful with clear Livestock &

Land objectives Stocking Rate: directly affects animal

performance Stocking Rate: can “blow” a good range

management plan Overutilization of plants Abandoning grazing plan to preserve short-term

livestock needs (drought)

Observations & Conclusions TGM adapts to any management

system & climate Precise measurement is not critical for

effective management decisions (forage utilization and growth curves)

Use in public lands situations requires two-way communication & agreement on management results

Reasons for not adopting TGM Too “Complicated” Already have a good monitoring and

record-keeping system Don't need a monitoring and record-

keeping system (usually experienced and confident operators)

Don’t understand that TGM isn’t primarily a record-keeping system

Don’t understand Stocking Rate & Variable climates