Animal Unit Month Calculator
Calculate Animal Unit Months (AUMs) from acreage, forage production, utilization rate, and animal unit equivalent. Determine how many animals your land can support.
Inputs
Results
Total AUMs
192.3
How to Use This Calculator
- Enter the number of each livestock type: cattle, horses, sheep, goats, or other.
- The calculator applies AUM equivalents (1 cow-calf pair = 1.0 AUM, sheep = 0.2 AUM).
- Review the total AUM count across your herd or flock.
- Compare total AUM to your pasture's carrying capacity in AUM per acre × total acres.
- Reduce stocking rates if AUM exceeds carrying capacity to prevent overgrazing.
How the result changes with Pasture Acres
| Pasture Acres | Total AUMs |
|---|---|
| 10,001 | 19,232.7 |
| 35,001 | 67,309.6 |
| 65,000 | 125,000 |
| 90,000 | 173,076.9 |
What each input means
- Pasture Acres
- Total pasture acreage available for grazing.
- Forage Production
- Annual dry matter forage yield per acre in pounds.
- Utilization Rate
- Percentage of forage available for grazing (typically 40-60%). The rest is left for plant health and wildlife.
- Animal Unit Equivalent
- AU equivalent of your animals (1.0 = 1,000 lb cow w/ calf, 0.7 = yearling, 1.25 = bull, 0.2 = sheep/goat, 1.2 = horse).
How this is calculated
Worked example, using the default values
- Identify Input Parameters4 parametersPasture Acres = 100, Forage Production = 3000, Utilization Rate = 50, Animal Unit Equivalent = 1 = 4 input(s) provided
- Calculate Total AUMsTotal AUMs192.3 = 192.3
- Calculate Adjusted AUMsAdjusted AUMs192.3 = 192.3
- Calculate Animals for 30 DaysAnimals for 30 Days192 = 192
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