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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