Unlocking the Economics of Rotational Grazing: Insights from Dallas Mount
Why Rotational Grazing Is More Than Just Moving Cattle
In our first webinar hosted by SaskSoil, ranching expert Dallas Mount — owner of Ranch Management Consultants and leader of the Ranching for Profit School — explained how rotational grazing is not just a grazing technique but a tool for long-term profitability.
Watch: Webinar: The Economics of Rotational Grazing with Dallas Mount
“We’re not just talking about cows and grass. We’re talking about profitable businesses, healthy land, and happy families.” – Dallas Mount
Know Your Numbers Before You Invest in Fences, Water Lines or New Paddocks
Before investing in fences, water lines or new paddocks, you need to understand your economic fundamentals.
Start here:
Calculate your gross margin per cow (revenue – direct costs).
Identify which enterprises are truly profitable.
Example from the webinar:
A higher margin is good, right? Each cow is producing more dollars to service the overheads and increase the profit of the business.
👉 Lesson: Don’t scale a business until you’re sure it’s profitable.
Assets vs. Liabilities: Invest with Purpose
Using a framework inspired by Robert Kiyosaki:
Assets generate future cash flow.
Liabilities drain resources (even if they look shiny).
Smart investments:
Grazing infrastructure (fence, water)
Better livestock
Peer advisory programs (like Executive Link)
Risky investments:
Overbuilt equipment
Unused machinery
Unprofitable enterprises
Grazing Infrastructure: The Numbers That Matter
Dallas broke down an example where a $6,500 investment in fence, portable water, and pipeline increased pasture harvest efficiency by 50%.
Before:
200 cows grazed a 640-acre pasture for 60 days.
Grazing efficiency: 40%
Forage value: $18,000/year
After infrastructure:
Grazing efficiency: 60%
Forage value: $27,000/year
ROI: 150% in the first year
5 Grazing Principles That Always Work
Dallas teaches these principles at the Ranching for Profit School:
Plan, monitor, manage – Build a plan and adapt as conditions change.
Allow full recovery – Don’t graze before plants are ready.
Short graze periods – Shorter = healthier.
High stock density – Concentrate livestock to improve utilization.
Match supply and demand – Don’t overgraze your resources.
📍 These principles apply everywhere — from Wyoming to Saskatchewan.
Grow the Right Business
The key to success isn’t just better grazing — it’s building a profitable core enterprise.
In the webinar, Dallas showed that by:
Removing the less profitable registered herd
Scaling the commercial herd from 400 to 1,200 head
Keeping the same overhead costs
The ranch turned a $70,000 loss into a $130,000 profit.
Key message: Grow only what works — and let grazing improvements help you get there.
Getting Started: Don’t Overbuild on Day One
Dallas recommends:
Testing new setups with temporary polywire and mobile troughs
Laying temporary above-ground pipeline to find ideal water points
Sizing pipes bigger than you think you need — future-proof your system
“If you use the same temporary water setup two years in a row, you’ve found your permanent location.”
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
Waiting too long for government cost-share programs.
Overengineering water systems because of cost-share rules.
Investing in unprofitable operations because “we’ve always done it this way.”
💡 Better: Know your numbers. Invest with confidence. Grow intentionally.
Upcoming Ranching for Profit Schools in Canada
Looking to dive deeper? Dallas will be returning to Canada to teach Ranching for Profit Schools in:
December – Alberta
February – Saskatoon
Stay tuned at ranchmanagement.com.
Final Thoughts
Rotational grazing is a proven tool — but its true power lies in how it's implemented alongside sound business decisions.
Focus on:
Profitability before expansion
Smart capital investments
Building the business you actually want to run
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