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