Low Cost Precision Supplements to Add Profit to Cow-Calf Operations

2005 Annual Report for FNC02-412

Project Type: Farmer/Rancher
Funds awarded in 2002: $5,153.00
Projected End Date: 12/31/2006
Matching Non-Federal Funds: $5,625.00
Region: North Central
State: South Dakota
Project Coordinator:
Jim Faulstich
Day Break Ranch

Low Cost Precision Supplements to Add Profit to Cow-Calf Operations

Summary

The Day Break Ranch of Highmore, SD, is a 4900-acre family ranch which is managed by Jim and Carol Faulstich and Jacquie and Adam Roth. The ranch includes a 300 head cow/calf operation and 75-110 yearling replacement heifers. The ranch sustains their natural resources by using rotational grazing systems, no-till farming, crop rotations, tree planting, water development and wildlife practices. The Day Break Ranch was the first to participate in the South Dakota Grassland Management Project, which helps monitor the grazing system’s impact on economics, livestock, wildlife water quality and vegetation

The objective of this project was to monitor and evaluate the cost and livestock’s performance while comparing those to the nutritional value of forage that was being consumed by the cattle. The long term goal of this project is to reduce supplement costs by $10/yr per head while increasing the livestock’s performance and native grasslands.

The project consisted of feeding a custom supplement to the 300 head cow herd and the 85 replacement heifers. The heifers were grazed on an intensive grazing system consisting of 21 paddocks on 320 acres of grassland. The cow/calf herd was grazed on a less intense system and both herds were grazed on hay and crop aftermath during the non-grazing season. Throughout the project, forage samples were taken and sent into a lab to test for the nutrient value of the forage. Livestock performance, supplement composition and cost were variables that were evaluated throughout the project.

The results of this project allowed them to adjust the supplement throughout the different grazing periods to improve the performance of the livestock. The results of this project proved to be successful as the ranch seen fewer health issues affecting the livestock as well as maintaining the grasslands that were used for grazing.

"I learned the precision supplementation could reduce my ranch’s supplementation cost substantially ($10-20 per/cow/yr) versus the supplementation used prior to this project. The program prevented under or over supplementation and insured that the livestock’s nutrition was optimum for livestock production goals," stated Faulstich.

Faulstich feels that this system could be a benefit to other ranches and expects the prices to be reduced as the sales representatives are trained to provide more consulting on these projects. Day Break Ranch has been a part of several presentations and tours displaying the success of their project.