Pasture Recovery Calculator
Calculate rest and recovery days needed between grazing periods based on forage species, season, and grazing intensity. Includes paddock rotation recommendations.
Inputs
Results
Rest Days Needed
26 days
Paddocks Needed
10
How to Use This Calculator
- Enter the pasture area in acres and the current forage height in inches.
- Set the forage species and target grazing height before moving animals out.
- Input the forage growth rate in inches per day for the current season.
- Review the number of days of grazing available and the recommended rest period before re-grazing.
- Rotate animals to fresh paddocks before forage falls below the minimum residual height.
How the result changes with Grazing Intensity
| Grazing Intensity | Rest Days Needed | Paddocks Needed |
|---|---|---|
| 19% | 18 days | 5 |
| 40% | 24 days | 6 |
| 65% | 30 days | 16 |
| 87% | 36 days | 19 |
What each input means
- Forage Species
- 1 = Bermuda Grass (25 day base), 2 = Tall Fescue (35 days), 3 = Orchard Grass (30 days), 4 = Native Mix (45 days).
- Season
- 1 = Spring (fastest regrowth), 2 = Summer, 3 = Fall (slowest regrowth).
- Grazing Intensity
- Percentage of forage removed during grazing (light ~30%, moderate ~50%, heavy ~70%+).
How this is calculated
Worked example, using the default values
- Identify Input ParametersForage Species = 2, Season = 1, Grazing Intensity = 50 = 3 input(s) provided
- Calculate Rest Days NeededRest Days Needed26 = 26
- Calculate Paddocks NeededPaddocks Needed10 = 10
- Calculate Recommended Graze DaysRecommended Graze Days3 = 3
- Calculate Annual Rotation CyclesAnnual Rotation Cycles7 = 7
Engine last updated . Checked against 3 independently-derived tests — how we verify calculators.
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