Cattle Herd Size Calculator
Calculate optimal herd size based on acreage, forage production, and grazing season length. Determine carrying capacity and stocking rate.
Inputs
Results
Recommended Herd Size
123
Stocking Rate
5.2 acres/AU
How to Use This Calculator
- Enter Pasture Acreage, Forage Production, and Daily Forage Intake.
- Set Grazing Season and Utilization Rate.
- Review Recommended Herd Size and Stocking Rate (acres/AU).
- Use Carrying Capacity (AU) and Available Forage (lbs) to inform your decision.
- Use the chart to visualize the results and explore different scenarios by adjusting inputs.
How the result changes with Pasture Acreage
| Pasture Acreage | Recommended Herd Size | Stocking Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 10,001 | 1,923 | 5.2 acres/AU |
| 35,001 | 6,730 | 5.2 acres/AU |
| 65,000 | 12,500 | 5.2 acres/AU |
| 90,000 | 17,307 | 5.2 acres/AU |
What each input means
- Pasture Acreage
- Total grazing acreage available (1 section = 640 acres).
- Forage Production
- Annual forage production per acre. Varies by region and rainfall.
- Daily Forage Intake
- Daily forage intake per animal unit (1 AU = 1,000 lb cow + calf, ~26 lbs/day).
- Grazing Season
- Number of days cattle graze this pasture.
- Utilization Rate
- Percentage of forage that can be grazed (50% is a sustainable target).
What each result means
- Carrying Capacity (AU)
- Maximum animal units the land can support.
- Recommended Herd Size
- Recommended head count (90% of capacity).
- Stocking Rate
- Acres per animal unit.
- Available Forage
- Total usable forage in pounds.
- Forage Surplus/Deficit
- Extra forage available at recommended stocking.
How this is calculated
Worked example, using the default values
- Identify Input Parameters4 parametersPasture Acreage = 640, Forage Production = 2000, Daily Forage Intake = 26, Grazing Season = 180 = 5 input(s) provided
- Calculate Recommended Herd SizeRecommended Herd Size123 = 123
- Calculate Stocking RateStocking Rate5.2 = 5.2
- Calculate Carrying CapacityCarrying Capacity136.8 = 136.8
- Calculate Available ForageAvailable Forage640000 = 640000
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