Everything is the same but my animals are behaving differently. Or

1. Everything is the same but my animals are behaving differently. Or My animals aren’t responding correctly to changes in my management.

2. Relationships Matter

3. When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the universe.  John Muir

4. What aren’t you seeing?

5. Examine Assumptions: What’s in my plants? What are my animals’ needs and history? Time of year? Growing conditions? What are my expectations?

6. Things to consider…

7. First Impressions Count

8. Sagebrush, Goats and Protein Block

9. Training animals to eat unpalatable species. Don’t push too hard.

10. Positive is more positive

11. Ray Bannister Diet Selection

12. Data collected at 7 ranches in Montana and New Mexico demonstrate that grazing distribution can be manipulated by strategic placement of supplement during the dormant season

13. LMB effectively increased and focused grazing in moderate terrain. LMB attracted cows to graze difficultterrain that typically was not used.

14. Low moisture blocks (LMB) contain 2 – 4 % moisture. LMB are available in 125 - 250 lb containers. LMB (250 lb) only need to be replaced about once every 2 weeks when fed 1 barrel per 25 cows.

15. Cattle spend time near low moisture block supplements in grazing, loafing and social activities. Almost 5 hours/day were spent within 100 yards (m) of blocks in a 2002 study.

16. An ATV and trailer allows placement of low-moisture blocks in steep, rocky terrain

17. Training is critical for supplement placement to be an effective tool to manipulate grazing distribution.

18. Evaluate and Adapt

19. In 2001 25% use of sage 504 sheep-days/acre 15 days 1.0 lb supplement 32 sheep/acre

20. In 2003 100% use of sage405 sheep-days/acre 6 days 1.9 lbs supplement 64 sheep/acre

21. Parker Mountain Wyoming Big Sagebrush Fall/Winter – Oct. 15 - Nov. 30 2006 Stocking Rate – 625 sheep days/acre Stock Density – 63 ewes/acre ±10 days in each pasture 2 lb/hd/day supplement

22. Pelleted Supplement for Sheep Grazing Sagebrush Beet Pulp Alfalfa Soybean Corn

23. Parker Mountain June 2007 Improve sage-grouse habitat and increase grasses and forbs

24. Parker Mountain Results • Sagebrush Cover • Grazed – 18% decrease (27% to 9%) • Ungrazed – unchanged (27% to 27%) • Sage grouse broods used grazed areas 4X more than ungrazed areas • More sets of twin lambs

25. Blue Mountain Mountain Big Sagebrush Fall/Winter – Nov. 13th – Dec. 10th Stocking Rate – 848 Sheep Days/acre Stock Density – 85 yearlings ewes/acre ±10 days in each pasture 1.7 lb/hd/day supplement

26. Blue Mountain Results • Sagebrush Cover • Grazed – 14% decrease (42% to 28%) • Ungrazed – 2% increase (39% to 41%) • Sheep continued to eat sagebrush even without supplement

27. Marshes - Louisiana Changing Grazing Management

28. If video doesn’t play, insert file Louisiana_marsh.wmv

29. Key points Pay attention to assumptions First impressions count Positive is more positive Evaluate and adapt

30. The question isn’t: Do animals learn? They learn every day. The question is: Do we want to be part of the process?

31. www.behave.net