Ed keeps production records on every cow to continually determine the needs of the herd and whether or not those needs are being met by their management system. Managing the day to day operations, Ed Fick utilizes proper grazing and rotational grazing practices which allows him to get to know the land, the grasses and grazing patterns. He can study the species growing in the pastures and determine the strengths and weaknesses of the range. Properly managing the pastures allows Ed to determine the best placement of fences, water, number of cattle per pasture and what is the best time of the year to graze a certain pasture. Crossfencing has allowed Ed to maintain his rotational grazing.
Smaller pastures allow for higher concentration, uniformity and even harvesting of the grasses.
Ed will often work with a 4 pasture rotational grazing system where he will graze three of the pastures and allow one to rest for a year. The next year he will graze the one which was sitting idle and leave one of the other three ungrazed for a year. This practice allows Ed to rest pastures on a regular basis. Meadow View Ranches Inc. was started by Walter Fick Sr. who has been described as a true steward of the land. Both are always willing to discuss new and innovative ways of maintaining and improve the land.