Perspective and Commentary: Effects of conversion of farmland to an integrated beef cattle grazing operation and water use in the Southern Plains and Ogallala Aquifer of the USA

Purpose

The objectives were to quantify the amount of water savings by converting farmland to an integrated cattle grazing operation through farming practices and cattle requirements, quantify estimated water savings from Thunderstruck Farms over a 20-yr period in relationship to a nearby municipality, and evaluate cattle water intake in backgrounding and feedlot phases.

Sources

Thunderstruck Farms is located near Garden City, Kansas, which has 3,035 irrigated hectares with the primary water source coming from the Ogallala Aquifer. In 2018 Thunderstruck Farms entered all its irrigated land into a water conservation area (WCA) to conserve water resources, and all crops grown are used for silage, hay, or pasture to support the dairy and feedyard enterprises in the region. Historical water and nitrogen use from Thunderstruck Farms was evaluated from 2013 through 2022. Light-weight beef cattle (181–272 kg) graze these irrigated pastures (approximately 120 d). Following the grazing season, the cattle are finished at Hy-Plains Feedyard (Montezuma, KS).

Synthesis

Thunderstruck Farms is allocated 22.9 billion liters of water annually for stock water and irrigation purposes. Thunderstruck Farms used 50.8 billion liters less water than allocated, with 57.8% of the conservation occurring during the 5-yr period of the WCA. Average nitrogen administration has decreased 39% per year since entering into the WCA. During the same period, Thunderstruck Farms has produced 2.8 million kilograms of total weight gain of beef; beef cattle were then transferred to Hy-Plains Feedyard to finish. Based on the calculations from this research, the average amount of water saved over a 4-yr period by decreasing commodity resource use by grazing cattle would average 1.1 billion liters of water each year per 4,047 ha. On average, cattle consumed 17.94 L/ head per day while grazing. Peak monthly water use corresponded with average ambient temperature peak during the summer months.

Conclusions and Applications

Integrated grazing systems reduce the inputs required for cattle to reach a slaughter endpoint. They also may improve soil health. All of these practices result in more water availability for surrounding municipalities and allow for a thriving local economy.