Ranch Planning and Strategy: An example. Glen K. Fukumoto, County Extension Agent Cooperative Extension Service, CTAHR, University of Hawaii at Manoa
1. Ranch Goals and Planning An example: Holistic Resource Management Three-Part Goal Quality of Life Production Future Landscape Description
2. Pasture System Ranch layout Record sheet: paddock name or number, acres, stocking rate, brief description Forages: species and yield Weed control program: species, herbicides, grazing management, multi-species grazing Calculate number of days grazing (AUM)
3. Beef Herd Inventory: cows, bulls, replacement, market animals Record sheet: weights, body condition score, age, breeds Herd health plan: disease, parasites, other illnesses and injuries Performance measures: calf crop, pregnancy, beef produced Genetic improvement plan
Record keeping: Ranch Record Book.
4. Grass-fed beef Performance measures: adg, live weight Carcass information: carcass weight, price received, sex, age, fat score (backfat or marbling, rib eye size, tenderness. Sales and Marketing: list of customers, pre-orders, announcement of availability, pricing
5. Economic Planning Expenses and Revenues Calculating the cost of production for a cow-calf operation. http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/oc/freepubs/pdf/LM-11.pdf Calf-XL program (Excel spreadsheet)
RANCH GOALS AND PLANNING
Planning and Managing the Whole. (from Holistic Resource Management course)
Defining the Whole.
People Family members
Employees and family
Professional people
Friends and neighbors
Recreation/Sportsmen
Consumers
Others
Financial List sources of money that could be used to support your goals. (Savings, loans, grants, cost share programs, trading for labor/supplies, other)
List other sources of assets, including livestock, crops, equipment.
Land and Resource Base List all the land resources you are responsible for managing.
Identify land resources as to use and ownership.
Is there a non-land based resource, such as a customer need, that fits your situation better?
Reasons for Change Identify the concerns or problems that you or others are aware of in the management of this three part whole?
Is everything OK as is, or Can you see some areas that need work?
List these items of concern and note the connections between the three parts? Developing the 3-Part Goal
This is a good practice, since most people have very little experience at setting goals for yourself. Most people don't know how to develop a goal, because were never taught how to do it.
Don’t confuse a goal with an action. To develop goals we must identify the values and relationships that are important in our lives. These values are then incorporated into the 3-part goal and used as a guide in our management.
Guidelines when forming your goals. If possible, sit with those who you have identified in the whole to be managed. Build trust and acceptance of the people involved. Goals must be written down, short statements or phases. Statement should contain what you want (not statements about how you plan to get there) Review your goals often and make changes as you develop greater understanding about people and land.
Part 1. Quality of Life/Human Values The quality of life portion of the goal should define the values and relationships that are being sought by all the people involved in the management of the resources.
Answering these questions can help you to get started: 1. What are those things that I appreciate most about my life today? Identify those things that I don’t want to see changed. 2. What are some things that I would like to change in my life? 3. What things do your society and community provide that enable you to live the life that you choose? 4. Identify those items that you contribute back to the well being of your community and society?
Part 2. Forms of Production List those items that we must produce to sustain our quality of life. (No doubt, money is required, thus to meet these financial requirements we define the need for profitability from various sources).
In addition to profit, people also identify the quality of the product that they are trying to produce or the surroundings they want to create. Identify anything else that you need to produce to support your values. Describe those items in short statements.
Part 3. Future Resource Base Describe how the landscape must function to indefinitely sustain the production, which will in turn, sustain the quality of life. Describe the Water cycle, Mineral cycle, Succession and Energy Flow of your pastureland, forestland, and/or cropland.
Example of 3-Part Goal Statements: Quality of Life • To maintain our traditional way of life and provide the opportunity for our children to take over the management of this land if they desire. • To develop a healthy life-style with a balance of work, play and learning. • To live in a beautiful, peaceful setting with clean water and air. • To be a major stabilizing influence in the community and to contribute greatly to community well-being and regeneration. • Commit to and support a loving relationship with my family, and harmony with friends and neighbors. • To have financial security and good health (mental, physical and spiritual)
Production • To support the quality of life defined, we must be involved in enterprises that are profitable. This profit may come from livestock, crops, recreation, services or any other enterprise that does not ham the quality of life we seek. • Products that we produce will be wholesome, natural and marketable. • Will produce an aesthetically pleasing environment that provides open space, solitude, clean air and water.
Future Landscape Pastureland: • Soil surfaces will be covered with litter and growing plants. • Soils will be covered with a diverse mixture of grass, forbs and shrubs. • Small areas of heavy brush will be planned to support a diversity of wildlife. • Energy flow will be high in relation to time, area of leaf and the volume of leaves available to capture light.
Future Landscape Cropland: • We will manage for highly productive living soils of great complexity. • These soils will be covered with living or dead plant material. • Soils will be well aerated and very high in humus. • Fields will be small with a wide variety of crops and great diversity of plants and animals will be planned. • Optimum levels of sunshine will be harvested within the constraints of the environment.
Another Example of 3-Part Goal Statements: Quality of Life
To have a healthy lifestyle that revolves around our family values. We want to live in a small sustainable community where we feed a sense of belonging and responsibility. We want the freedom to make our living from the land and act according to our beliefs. We desire adequate services and resources to educate our children and the opportunity for them to continue to live and/or work on our family’s land. We want to feel our work and lives are meaningful.
Forms of Production
Profit from livestock, wildlife, crops and native plants. Clean water and air. A quiet, organized surrounding with beautiful views and trees. Profit from recreation, tourism and other public activities that do not conflict with our values.
Landscape Description
The general view of the landscape will be of successional complexity. Many varieties of grasses, forbs, brush and trees will be present where possible. Minerals with cycle effectively and rapidly from various depths in the soil and at the soil surface. Bare soil surfaces will be minimal. Wildlife habitat containing cover, feed and water will be an integral part of our final landscape successional picture. Restoration of native flora will be a part of our landscape. Precipitation will be effective and erosion is minimal. Streamside areas are stable and dominated by trees of many age classes. Energy flow will be high towards the production of livestock, wildlife, crops and a beautiful surrounding.
Another example of a 3-Part Goal; adjusting your goals. (from HRM course handout, Halladay Ranch)
Quality of Life
1986: We want to live good, with money available for recreation, earn our living without backbreaking work, provide education, or whatever for our kids.
1992: We want to be debt-free, we want to be excited ad enthusiastic about what we are doing and have to do on a daily basis, we want to leave this world (when we are very, very old) with our family happy, knowing that we led productive happy lives, left the land in a better condition that we found it, and were recognized for this achievement, we want our children to be happy and productive and we want to be able to help them obtain their goals so they can reach their full potential.
Forms of Production:
1986: Use either cows or yearlings to maximize production, but don't rule out things like sheep; get enough cows so Randee (wife) doesn’t have to work off the ranch, keep costs as low as possible.
1992: Profit from livestock and crops (the main crop being grass), and anything that doesn’t interfere with our values and that complements what we do and what we are.
Future Landscape:
1986: Complex, stable environment with permanent pastures, including microorganisms, birds, small animals, wildlife, etc. absolutely no erosion and no bare soil, lots of flowers, trees, shrubs and tall grass.
1992: Succession (community dynamics) very complex grassland not allowed to advance to forest except in the areas mapped. Different species and varieties of plans in the form of shelter belts that could have harvestable products within; a great variety of animal life with considerable emphasis on birds; great complexity in soil organism, including fungi and molds.
CTAHR Beef Research Programs at the Mealani Research Station 5/25/10 4:02 PM
Welcome Pastoral System Beef Herd Grass-Fed Beef Meat Quality Outreach CTAHR Beef Research Programs at the Mealani Research Station
Aloha! Welcome to the CTAHR beef cattle research website. We hope that the site will provide an insight into our beef herd practices, applied research activities and how the outcomes will benefit Started October 15, the beef cattle industry 2009 in Hawaii and the tropical regions in the Pacific rim.
Vision Statement “Provide a venue for innovative and creative research and outreach programs enabling it to be the leader in the development of healthy foods and urban-friendly production systems that will result in health communities, sustainable ecosystems and economic vitality for the State of Hawaii and the Pacific.”
Logic Model Background Environment Google Map Contact Us
Public Value Statements Impact and Benefits Livestock Sales Started October 15, 2009
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Logic Model
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Ranch layout
Record sheet: paddock name or number, acres, stocking rate, brief description of paddock.
Forages: species and yield
Calculate number of days grazing (AUM)
Weed control program: species, herbicides, grazing management, multi-species grazing
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Mealani Research Station Quick Facts:
Grazing area: 180 acres Stocking rate: 1.2 ac/AU Forages: Primary grass = Kikuyu grass, Pennisetum clandestinum Legumes = White clover
Kauai Research Station Quick Facts:
Research:
Pastoral System Links: Pasture and Grazing Management
Mealani Grazing Paddock Layout Pasture and grazing management practices employed at Tropical Forage Demo Garden Mealani will include a “leader/follower” high intensity- short duration grazing system. Perennial Peanut Demo Garden In this system three groups of animals will be Leucaena Forage successively rotated through the each pasture. These groups include grass-finish steers (15-30 head), Drought Management replacement heifers (15-25 head), and the breeding herd (70 -90 head). Herd numbers will vary for each group Pasture Seed Drill and will be determined based on forage availability. For Memorandum of Understanding for use of seed drill each pasture, the grass-finish steers will begin the grazing cycle, followed by the heifers and then the breeding herd. Link to CTAHR Forages website: Average grazing time for each group in any given www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/forages pasture is approximately 1 day though this will vary depending on the quantity of forage available. Thus, file:///Volumes/NO%20NAME/Presentations/CTAHR_Beef_Research_Programs/Pastoral_System.html Page 1 of 2 Mealani Grazing Paddock Layout 5/25/10 4:03 PM
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Mealani Grazing Paddock Layout
Aerial view showing the layout of the individual paddocks of the Mealani grazing system.
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Drought Management
Drought is a period of extremely dry conditions that develops periodically and often leads to unexpected shortages in forage availability. It is difficult to predict when drought will occur, and how long or how severe it will be when it arrives. For these reasons herd and pasture management decisions during drought must include an array of options that allow for flexibility and decisiveness. Mealani Station personnel will monitor weather conditions and make timely decisions on supplementation and herd reductions at the first signs of drought. During drought every effort will be made to assure that herd nutrition is adequate to maintain animal body condition.
Other Considerations: 1. Biodiversity is drought insurance. Increase diversity, increases energy flow, which leads to improved sustainability. 2. Off-site grazing options 3. Destocking plan (open cows, open heifers, steers, heifers, bulls, cows) 4. Early weaning of calves 5. Reduce breeding 6. Water supply plan
file:///Volumes/NO%20NAME/Presentations/CTAHR_Beef_Research_Programs/Drought_Management.html Page 1 of 1 BEEF HERD
Inventory: cows, bulls, replacement, market animals
Record sheet: weights, body condition score, age, breeds
Herd health plan: disease, parasites, other illnesses and injuries
Performance measures: calf crop, pregnancy, beef produced
Genetic improvement plan
Record keeping: Ranch Record Book.
Beef Herd 5/25/10 4:04 PM
Welcome Pastoral System Beef Herd Grass-Fed Beef Meat Quality Outreach Beef Herd
Quick Statistics: Inventory: Cows - 85 Bulls - 18 Replacement heifers - 25 Replacements bulls Grass-fed steers - 22 (as of March 31, 2010)
Research:
Ultra Sound Technology
Beef Herd Links:
Herd Inventory Cow Performance Herd Health AI Protocol Cattle Allocation Plan Beef Herd Technology and Model The focus of this goal is to provide a transparent view of Links to CTAHR Publications: the activities, operations and programs the Mealani beef Application of Ultrasound cattle herd, where the on-line information can serve as Technology in Beef Cattle Carcass an educational model for the industry, students and the Research and Management. community. Bull Power: Examination of Beef Cattle Bulls for Breeding Soundness. Objectives and Strategic Actions Pelvic Measurement of Heifers: A In 2003 a Mealani Livestock Committee was formed to Case Study in Hawaii. set up objectives in the activities in service to our The Basics of Heat (Estrus) stakeholders. The role of the committee is to plan the Detection in Cattle. details of the cow herd on an annual and intermediate term basis, monitor its progress, make adjustments and Proper Semen Handling During replan. Foremost was to the need to improve the public an Artificial Insemination Program. relations with the beef cattle and other pastoral-base industries and to open dialog with the community. Three Simplified Estrus Synchronization Programs for Objectives: Hawai‘i’s Beef Breeding Season. file:///Volumes/NO%20NAME/Presentations/CTAHR_Beef_Research_Programs/Beef_Herd.html Page 1 of 2 Beef Herd 5/25/10 4:04 PM
Hawai‘i’s Beef Breeding Season. 1. Provide an annual progress report to our Parasite Control Options for stakeholders. Cattle in Hawaii. 2. Improve the current record keeping system and communications between researchers, extension personnel and the research station manager and livestock technicians. Develop or adopt a computerized record keeping system that can be used to benchmark and to track the progress of the beef herd, forage-based production and carcass performance measures. 3. Shift current composite genetic base of the cow herd to an Angus based genetics. In addition, streamline breeding seasons into a single breeding season. 4. Investigate and focus on forage-finish beef production in Hawaii, with a long-term objective of retaining all cattle for markets in Hawaii rather than shipment to mainland markets. However, in the interim period, develop programs with partners to continue to gather data on the herd or individual in feedlot performance and in carcass meat quality.
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Herd Inventory
Inventory (as of December 2009 ) Cows - 85 average weight BCS Age - cull at 10-years old, Breeds - Angus, Hereford, Composite Replacement heifers - 25 Bulls - 18 Replacement bulls Grass-fed steers - 22 average daily gain Grass-fed heifers General Herd Activity Calendar
Breeding: August - September
Calving: April - May
Weaning: October (6-7 months)
Grass-fed, start in November Slaughter, in November-December of following year (19-20 month-old)
Livestock Sale: Fall (November) and Spring (May)
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Cattle Allocation Plan
Calves: With a 95% calf crop goal and depending on the breeding herd size, we expect to produce 95 to 104 calves per year. A figure of 100 calves per year is used in the scenario/calculations.
Heifers: 50 heifer calves per year. 1. Replacement heifers: retain 40% of the heifers, 20 head per year. 2. Balance of heifers, 30 head per year will be: a. marketed at Mealani Livestock Sale; or b. enter in cooperative project; or c. enter into forage-finish production trial at Mealani or other cooperator sites.
Bulls: 50 bull calves per year. file:///Volumes/NO%20NAME/Presentations/CTAHR_Beef_Research_Programs/Cattle_Allocation_Plan.html Page 1 of 2 Cattle Allocation Plan 5/25/10 4:06 PM
1. Replacement bulls: retain 20% of the bulls, 10 head per year. Breeds: 80% Angus, 20% Hereford Herdsman and Genetics Program Leader to make determination on bull calves left intact and castrated. Currently approximately 50% are left intact and 50% steered. Vasectomized bulls will be selected from older bull battery or young bull replacement battery. 2. Balance of bull calves, 15 head per year will be: a. marketed as young bulls at Mealani Livestock Sale; or b. castrated, then; 1. marketed as steer calves at Mealani Livestock Sale; or 2. enter in cooperative project; or 3. enter into forage-finish production trial at Mealani or other cooperator sites.
Steer calves: 25 head per year 1. 15 head per year will be selected for forage-finish production trial at Mealani. 2. Balance of steer calves, 10 head per year will be: a. marketed at Mealani Livestock Sale; or b. enter in cooperative project; or c. enter into forage-finish production trial at Mealani or other cooperator sites.
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Comprehensive Beef Herd Health Program
(as of 2006) I.Calves a.Branding (2-4 months) i.Blackleg vaccine ‒ 7 way clostridium (Siteguard MLG, 5 ml SQ) ii.4-way IBR/PI3, BVD, BRSV, Leptospirosis, (modified live (Pyramid 3, 2 ml IM)) iii.Vitamin A/D supplement (2 ml SQ) iv.Deworm v.Castrate, dehorn, ear tag, brand ID# b.Weaning (6-7 months) i.Blackleg ‒ 7 way clostridium (Siteguard MLG, 5 ml SQ) ii.4-way IBR/PI3, BVD, BRSV, Vibrio/Leptospirosis, modified live (Pyramid9 2ml IM) iii.Vitamin A/D supplement (2 ml SQ) iv.Deworm ‒ pour on (Cydectin) c.Grass Finish Calves i.Deworm ( interval) ii.Observe for injury, sickness. II.Replacement heifers (30-45 days before turnout) i.4-way IBR/PI3, BVD, BRSV, VL, modified live (Pyramid 9, 2 ml IM) ii.Pelvic measure (criteria: min of cm2) iii.Deworm ‒ pour on (Cydectin) iv.Fecal egg count to monitor deworming frequency (every 30-60 days) III.Replacement bulls (13-15 months) i.Scrotal measure at 12-14 months (criteria: min of 30 cm) ii.BSE prior to first turnout (> 14 months) iii.Semen testing iv.Vibrin (2 ml SQ) v.Deworm ‒ pour on (Cydectin) IV.Bulls (30 -45 days prior to turnout) i.BSE ii.Vibrin (4 ml SQ) iii.Deworm ‒ pour on (Cydectin) V.Cows a.Pre-breeding (30-days) i.Blackleg - 7 way clostridium ii.4-way IBR/PI3, BVD, BRSV, Vibrio/Leptospirosis, modified live (Pyramid 9, 2 ml IM) iii.Deworm ‒ pour on (Cydectin) b.Pregnancy diagnosis (75-90 days) c.Pre calving i.Deworm ‒ pour on (Cydectin) VI. Other a. Pneumonia - antibiotic (LA-200) b. Scours ‒ Corid, sulfa bolus and antibiotic c. Sanitation ‒ disinfection of facilities
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Performance Goals
Specific Herd Goals 1. Bull Selection. The specific goals of are to 1) increase carcass weight, 2) increase rib eye area and 3) increase marbling score to increase marketability of this revenue generating unit of the herd (bulls and market calves). Dimensional measurements (bull scrotal, heifer pelvic, hip height, body condition score).
2. Cows. The herd size will be corrected and adjusted to 100 – 110 cows. Records of maternal performance and moderate frame score will be used as the primary selection tool and criteria. Other tools in the future may incorporate the use of ultrasound, Bovine Engineering philosophies, and other technologies. A culling rate of 10% was established for the herd, but may be adjusted dependent on the weather conditions and other factors. Culling criteria will be based on a priority of 1) reproductive performance, i.e. no calf, no second chance, 2) maximum age of 10 year-old and 3) other chronic problems and disposition.
3. Calf Performance.
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A.I. Program
Artificial insemination synchronization program (CIDR program) and bull selection. The artificial insemination synchronization program has been changed from the old two shot program to the new EAZI BREED CIDR program. The EAZI BREED CIDR system with prostaglandin (Lutalyse) will be implemented on all purebred Angus, Hereford cows and incoming virgin cross bred heifers entering artificially insemination (AI) breeding program. Natural service using designated Angus and/or Hereford sires will be used for clean up and herd mating. Total breeding season is 45-days.
Protocol. The EAZI BREED CIDR Cattle insert can be administered during any stage of the estrous cycle of beef cattle. The inserts are implanted intra-vaginally using the supplied plastic applicator at a rate of one per animal. The insert releases progesterone during the seven day treatment period to initiate estrous. To complete synchronization, an injection of prostaglandin (5cc) must be given to all animals implanted one day before implant removal on Day 6. On the seventh day of treatment, vaginal implants are removed, discarded and vasectomy altered bulls with chin ball paint markers are to be released into treated herd to help determine estrus for the next four days. The whole herd is artificially inseminated using Angus semen to purebred Angus cattle and all heifers detected in heat and Polled Hereford semen to purebred Hereford cattle. After breeding AI, segregate bred animals to a different paddock from treated animals. Chin ball markers on gomer bulls are to be checked and refilled on second or third day of heat detecting program depending on paint usage. Natural service chin ball marker Angus or Hereford sires are to be used to cover whole herd after artificial insemination program is completed. These sires are to enter herd on day 14 of program and remain with herd for a minimum of 35 days (day 49). Records will be kept on all animals naturally serviced to determine sire information. Veterinary checks for pregnancy will commence 60 days after bull removal. Figure below displays the breeding management timeline from implantation to pregnancy diagnosis.
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file:///Volumes/NO%20NAME/Presentations/CTAHR_Beef_Research_Programs/A.I_Program.html Page 1 of 1 GRASS-FED BEEF
Performance measures: Average Daily Gain (adg) Record live weight
Carcass information: Carcass weight Age of animal Sex Quality measurements: Tenderness by shear force measurement fat score (backfat or marbling) Rib eye size Price received
Sales and Marketing: List of customers (for pre-orders, announcement of available dates) Pricing sheet
Grass-Fed Beef Program 5/25/10 4:07 PM
Welcome Pastoral System Beef Herd Grass-Fed Beef Meat Quality Outreach Grass-Fed Beef Program
Quick Statistics:
Forage beef
Research:
Grass-fed Beef Links:
2006 Factsheet
2007 Factsheet
Links to CTAHR Publications:
The Market for Hawaii-Grown Natural and Organic Beef. Grass-fed Beef Production
Since 2005, CTAHR has initiated a demonstration project to evaluate the production of high quality grassfed beef in hawaii The goal of the study is to determine optimum production factors required to produce a quality grassfed market animal in 24 months or less.
Spring born steers calves are selected after weaning and assigned as the lead group in a stratified grazing system (leader-follower), where the strata is comprised of three herds, the steer, replacement heifer and cow herd. Average grazing rotation is 45-days. The steers are raised to target market weights of 1150-1200 pounds. Under the stratified grazing system, the steers receive the best available forage nutrition. Average harvest age is approximately 20 months, average daily gain from birth is 1.90, USDA carcass grade equivalent is 30-35% file:///Volumes/NO%20NAME/Presentations/CTAHR_Beef_Research_Programs/Grass-Fed_Beef.html Page 1 of 2 2007 Factsheet 5/25/10 4:07 PM
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Quick Facts:
Research:
Hawaiian Red Veal
Cull Cow Evaluation
Meat Quality Links:
Prime on Forage
Links to CTAHR publications:
Carcass Characteristics of Meat Science and Technology Forage-Finished Cattle Produced in Hawai‘i. CTAHR researchers and extension educators have been involved in the evaluation of Hawaii beef products for Evaluation of Meat Tenderness many years and have made significant impact on the of Forage-Finished Cattle 100% Hawaii-Grown beef market. Accomplishments Produced in Hawai‘i, and include introduction of low-voltage electrical stimulator Factors Affecting the Tenderness. technology for carcass tenderization evaluation of mechanical tenderization of grass finished beef, Improving Tenderness of determined the healthy fatty acid profiles in Hawaiian Forage-Finished Beef Using a grass finished beef, development the “Island Fresh” beef Mechanical Tenderizer. label has led to numerous local beef label and identity, and research has established a benchmark of beef Improving Tenderness of quality and tenderness of Hawaiian grass finished beef Forage-Finished Beef Using a for future product enhancement. Low-Voltage Electrical Stimulator CTAHR will continue to work with Hawai’i producers in improvement and refinement of beef quality through best management practices focusing on producing tender island beef and will assist in the exploration of file:///Volumes/NO%20NAME/Presentations/CTAHR_Beef_Research_Programs/Meat_Quality.html Page 1 of 2 ECONOMIC PLAN
Expenses and Revenues
Tools to help in calculating your expenses Calculating the cost of production for a cow-calf operation. http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/oc/freepubs/pdf/LM-11.pdf
Calf-XL program (Excel spreadsheet)