Across the Fence

by Bill Rinehart

Roundup 2002

Roundup 2002 actually began in late September with the introduction for the first time of feed trucks to help gather the herd. Several feed trucks were used to acquaint the herd with 20% range cubes. Beginning in late October the trucks were used to bait groups of bison so that by the time conventional four-wheel ATV's were employed on November 5, about 90% of the herd had been enticed into the East Side of the bison unit near the corral. By November 14, utilizing three days of supplementary ATV/feed truck work, the herd was assembled into the traps next to the corral. The feed trucks greatly reduced the roundup stress on bison, people, and equipment, and will likely be used again this next fall during roundup. Except for this short "baiting" period, the herd will continue to receive no feed supplementation.

rounding up a straggler

Bob Hamilton, assistant director and director of science and stewardship for the preserve, reported that 1,890 bison were worked through the corral November 16-21, 2002, with disease testing of sale animals initiated on December 2. He said three adults (one cow and two bulls) were known to have avoided the roundup, although a few more could have also avoided roundup, especially in the dense crosstimbers.

The only time an accurate count can be made of the year's calf crop is at roundup. Roundup 2002 showed that 437 calves (232 females and 205males) were born during the year. Following roundup, 266 animals were sold consisting of 2 cull heifers, 45 old cows, 13 old bulls, 110 2.5-year old bulls and 38 yearling bulls. Sealed bid and private treaty sold these animals to seven private bison producers in Iowa, Nebraska, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Kansas. In addition, 18 old cows and 40 yearling bulls were sold at the Kansas Buffalo Association auction in Salina, KS on December 7, 2002.

Sales prices for the sold animals continued the low trend especially when compared to a few years ago. The overall average price was a little over $290 for males and $148 for females. A few years ago a bred cow brought as much as $3,000 and an open cow around $2,000. Bulls used to bring considerably less than females, but now they bring on average more than the females. In the past, bulls were typically the weaker link economically, but today's buyers still seem willing to bid higher on breeding and feeder class bulls.

Twenty-four yearling bulls were purchased from the Nature Conservancy's Niobrara Valley Preserve in Nebraska. The Conservancy's Adopt-a-Bison Program covered the $7,200 acquisition and $900 trucking costs for the animals. Five 2-year old heifers and two yearling bulls were traded with the Konza Prairie Biological Station, KSU, Manhattan, KS for two 2-year old bulls and five yearling heifers.

Following roundup and considering the number of animals sold, purchased, and traded, the 2002-2003 over-wintering herd numbers 1,644 bison. During roundup, it was determined that 82% of the 67 older cows culled were bred. "Excellent growing conditions due to substantial rainfall in 2002 apparently resulted in high breeding rates," Hamilton said. This early indicator plus the culling of the preserves older cows (10.5-13.5 years old) may well lead to a higher calving rate in 2003. This year's calf crop is therefore estimated to approximate 500 head.

The long-term target summertime herd size was revised this past fall from 3,200 head to 2,600 as was the year-round bison pasture from 30,400 acres to 24,800. Hamilton said, "This revision was prompted by the encouraging results from two years of collaborative cattle 'patch burn' research on the preserve with Oklahoma State University and the desire to invest even more landscape in the effort to export 'conservation friendly' cattle grazing models to the ranching industry." As a result, the ultimate cattle grazing area was also revised from 3,100 acres to 10,100.

The roundup and corral and corral working crew typically consisted of six preserve staff members, five local day-help cowboys, and two Conservancy staff members who ran the computer on corral working days. As the animals were worked through the corral, they received their traditional health treatments consisting of vaccinations for several bovine diseases, parasite control, brucellosis vaccination of heifer calves, year branding of calves, and electronic tagging (transponder ear tags) of all calves. Working 1,890 bison through the corral required six working days, or more than 300 animals per day on average.

The year-round bison unit currently comprises 14,389 acres. Hamilton says this fall they hope to add another 7,000 acres to the bison unit. As the herd grows in number each year, it is important more acres be added to the year-round bison unit until the ultimate goal of 24,800 acres is reached. It is felt that amount of acreage will accommodate a target summertime herd size of 2,600 head and a wintertime herd of 1,950 bison.

As the bison unit is increased, the cattle unit will be decreased in acreage until the ultimate cattle grazed area of 10,100 acres is reached. The cattle grazed unit is currently 19,853 acres and was that size all of 2002. Some 5,170 head of steers pasture on the cattle unit in 2002 during the first part of the prairie grass growing season. Hamilton anticipates some 5,910 head of steers will pasture on the preserve this year. Customarily the cattle are brought onto the preserve in the spring and removed in mid to late July to allow the prairie to rejuvenate itself during the second half of the growing season.

Hamilton said, "The corral system continues to work extremely well, and the preserve staff has learned how to move the animals through in as low stress of a manner as possible." Enhancements to the corral complex in 2002 included the construction of a new 8-acre holding pen adjacent to the corral, which will be subdivided into three pens before fall 2003." Additional pens not only enhance handling and holding the animals, but also help lower their stress level during roundup.

Corral improvements and the purchase of 24 bulls following roundup 2002 were made possible from funds generated by The Nature Conservancy's Adopt-a-Bison program. This program allows donors to adopt bison at $40 per animal. Their donation helps support the management of the bison herd and assists TNC in restoring and protecting the tallgrass prairie.