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Calcimator

Precision Feeding Calculator

Calculate optimal stocking density from forage availability, animal unit equivalents, and grazing days. Determine carrying capacity and feed costs.

Inputs

%
$

Results

Max carrying capacity (head)

93

Acres per AU3.6
Animal Unit Months528
Forage supply vs demand (%)117%
Daily herd DM need (lbs)2,288
Season DM need (lbs)411,840
Supplement cost$0.00
Total feed cost$32,947.00
Au Per Acre0.28
How to Use This Calculator
  1. Enter Pasture size (acres), Forage yield (lbs DM/acre), and Utilization rate (%).
  2. Set Avg animal weight (lbs), Grazing season (days), and Number of animals.
  3. Adjust Supplement (lbs/head/day), Feed cost ($/lb DM) as needed.
  4. Review the Max carrying capacity (head) result.
  5. Use Acres per AU and Animal Unit Months to inform your decision.

How the result changes with Pasture size (acres)

Pasture size (acres)Max carrying capacity (head)
10,0012,914
35,00110,198
65,00018,939
90,00026,224

What each input means

Pasture size (acres)
Total grazing area.
Forage yield (lbs DM/acre)
Annual dry-matter forage production per acre.
Utilization rate (%)
Percent of forage animals can actually consume (50% is typical for continuous grazing, 60-70% for rotational).
Avg animal weight (lbs)
Average body weight of grazing animals.
Grazing season (days)
Length of grazing season.
Number of animals
Current or planned number of animals.
Supplement (lbs/head/day)
Supplemental feed per animal per day.
Feed cost ($/lb DM)
Cost per pound of dry matter (forage or supplement).

What each result means

Max carrying capacity (head)
Maximum animals the pasture can support for the grazing period.
Acres per AU
Acres needed per Animal Unit at current stocking.
Animal Unit Months
Total AUM of grazing pressure.
Forage supply vs demand (%)
Available forage as % of requirement (>100% = surplus).
Daily herd DM need (lbs)
Total daily dry matter requirement for the herd.
Season DM need (lbs)
Total forage needed for the entire grazing season.
Supplement cost
Total supplemental feed cost for the season.
Total feed cost
Total forage + supplement cost for the season.

How this is calculated

Worked example, using the default values

  1. Identify Input Parameters
    4 parameters
    Pasture size (acres) = 320, Forage yield (lbs DM/acre) = 3000, Utilization rate (%) = 50, Avg animal weight (lbs) = 1100 = 8 input(s) provided
  2. Calculate Max carrying capacity
    93 = 93
  3. Calculate Acres per AU
    3.6 = 3.6
  4. Calculate Animal Unit Months
    Animal Unit Months = (numAnimals * auEquivalent * grazingDays) / 30
    528 = 528

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