Louisiana’s sub-tropical climate, medium and high natural fertility, of most, of our soils, 60 or so inches of well distributed rainfall, and producer’s experience managing hardy crossbred cows have allowed for us to take our good grazing land resources for granted. Louisiana has some of the best resources in the United States, for operating cattle grazing enterprises. Our resources are amazingly resilient! Years of no management or mismanagement can be overcome with a one to three years of good grazing land resource management!

     Calves would have to bring over $2.50 per pound to offset the high input cost that cattle producers face at this point in history! What can a Louisiana cattle producer do to survive? The answer is to reduce input cost and manage existing grazing land resources more effectively! A few pioneers have begun to make the move to more sustainable systems that reduce input cost and utilize resources more efficiently! Savvy cattle producers pay close attention to prices and trends in the cattle business. Lately, most are shocked and, at the same time, encouraged by the high prices that calves and replacement females are bringing! Diminishing positive returns and bleak long term trends of rising cost have eliminated incentives for many Louisiana producers.

     Energy related costs have skyrocketed in the last decade. 2008 brought $1000+ per ton fertilizer and $4+ per gallon diesel fuel! This year has already presented $750 fertilizer and $3.90 fuel! Will the rise in cost continue?

     Economics or “actual cost” drives our decisions. Economics also dictate how we manage our cattle operations! There will probably always be producers that do not look at making a profit as a primary goal. Most desire to make a profit or at least break even on their cattle operations! Some resourceful producers in Louisiana make a handsome profit on a regular basis. These producers have changed to more sustainable systems! They reduced input cost and manage resources effectively and efficiently! How can this be done?

     The typical cattle operation in Louisiana has been developed under the model of “Input Based Modern Agriculture”. This model evolved based on cheap energy inputs and modern improved forages that depend on high levels of added fertilizer, use of herbicides to suppress plant competition, and fungicides and insecticides control disease and insects.. Modern agriculture is highly dependent on all of these expensive inputs! This model was originally developed based on fertilizer at less than $100 per ton and diesel fuel at $1 or less a gallon, cheap labor, and minimal operating expenses! Are those items ever going to return to the cost levels of the past? The global effects of increased demand from rapidly economic development in countries such as China, India, Brazil, and Russia will continue to drive the cost of energy and associated agricultural inputs in an upward direction! These countries are expanding their economic base exponentially the same way that the United States did beginning in the mid 1940s!

     Let us look at some changes in prices that have taken place over the past 15 years. In 1996 a ton of 21-15-20 fertilizer (a blend of 1/3 each: Urea [46-0-0], DAP [18-46-0], and Potash [0-0-60]) cost $242 per ton. Diesel fuel cost $1.18 per gallon ($0.78/ gal. for farm diesel). A 550 pound steer brought $0.61 per pound or $337.59 per head. In 2011 a ton of 21-15-20 fertilizer cost $750 per ton. Diesel fuel cost $3.94 per gallon ($3.50/gal. for farm diesel). A 550 pound steer sold for $1.39 per pound or $764 per head. Most other input costs have skyrocketed as well. Survival for the current year and for years to come will be a tough order to fill!

     How can existing resources be utilized more efficiently?

     Step one should be implementation of a rotational grazing system or stepping up a rotational system to the next level. Either move is a positive step to a more sustainable operation. Under continuous grazing, forages are utilized only at about 25% over the calendar year. Continuous grazing favors undesirable plants, erosion, poor surface water quality, and uneven nutrient distribution. Rotational grazing favors substantial improvements in all of these areas.

     General (level 1) rotational grazing requires a minimum of 2 - 4 pastures per herd. Grazing periods are usually 8 to 16 days. Forage utilization is at about 35%. That is a 40% increase over the baseline of continuous grazing. Pastures are rested 50 - 75% of the time.

     Basic (level 2) rotational grazing requires a minimum of 5 - 8 pastures per herd. Grazing periods are usually 4 to 7 days. Forage utilization is at about 45%. That is a 80% increase over the baseline of continuous grazing. Pastures are rested 80 - 88% of the time.

     Effective (level 3) rotational grazing requires a minimum of 9 - 12 pastures per herd. Grazing periods are usually 1 to 3 days. Forage utilization is at about 55%. That is a 120% increase over the baseline of continuous grazing. Pastures are rested 89 - 92% of the time.

     Intensive (level 4) rotational grazing requires a minimum of 13 to 24 pastures per herd. Grazing periods are usually ½ to 1 day in length. Forage utilization is at about 65%. That is a 160% increase over baseline continuous grazing. Pastures are rested 93 – 99% of the time.

     Implementation of a practical grazing management system will usually increase the grazing days in a year by 14 to 60 days, depending on the level of management. Many producers on level 2 or 3 rotational grazing programs don’t feed hay until mid-December or early January. Substantial savings can be realized. A herd of 100 cows consumes about 4 round bales of hay each day. A 30 day extension of the grazing season will reduce hay feeding by 120 bales. 120 bales at 30 dollars each equal an exceptional savings of $3600!

     Most producers can implement level 1 or 2 rotational grazing with limited inputs in the way of watering facilities and cross fencing. Ultimately the grazing management is driving the system. Once rest periods are allowed and the $300+ of nutrients that each cow distributes each year is distributed more evenly across the pasture, drastic changes take place. 100 cows at $300 dollars each equals $30,000 dollars worth of nutrients to manage. Soil quality improves, erosion is drastically reduced, infiltration of rainwater increases, and the runoff from excessive rainfall becomes clearer! That rich topsoil and very valuable nutrients stay on your ranch to produce more grass and pounds of beef.

     Hay storage and feeding can also be an important area to focus upon. Some Louisiana producers waste 50% or more of their hay each year. Proper health care and other animal husbandry practices can provide good returns as well. These include internal parasite control through an effective de-worming program and external parasite control through effective use of insecticide fly tags, rubs, and sprays. A good mineral program and vaccination program can add 5 to 10% to your conception rate. Consider moving calving periods to line up with nature. A brood cow’s nutritional requirements peak at 40 to 80 days after giving birth. Consider lining this time up with the peak of the spring forage season!

     Proper stocking rates are also critically important. A ranch stocked with 100 cows that weans 70 calves each year is fairly common (70%). The same ranch can possibly support 80 cows more sustainably and wean the same 70 calves (87.5%). Cost to maintain 80 cows would be much less than cost to maintain 100 cows! At a cost of $450 per head that is a savings of $9000.

     There are always excuses not to make any changes. That’s just basic human nature at work. If survival and having a profitable livestock operation are goals of yours, consider making a change!

     Assistance to develop sustainable grazing land resource management systems that work in Louisiana is currently available through your local Soil and Water Conservation District and USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Field Office. Cost share on facilitating practices such as interior fencing and water system development is also available through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP).