Pasture stocking rate calculator

Pasture stocking rate calculator: what it is for

The stocking rate measures how many animal units (AU, 1,000 lb of live weight) the pasture carries per acre. Set up the groups with the number of head and their average weight, enter the area in acres or hectares and your target stocking rate: the calculator shows the current rate in AU per acre, the live weight per acre and how many more head still fit, or how many are over.

The calculations run in your browser: no data about your property is sent or stored on a server.

How to use

1. Add the groups with the number of head and average weight.
2. Enter the pasture area and the target AU per acre.
3. See the current stocking rate and the remaining capacity.

When to use it

• Planning calf and stocker purchases.
• Avoiding overgrazing during drought.
• Tracking ranch indicators.

Frequently asked questions

What is an animal unit (AU)?

An animal unit is 1,000 lb of live weight, roughly a mature cow. So a 1,000 lb cow is 1 AU, and two 500 lb calves also add up to 1 AU. Converting to AUs lets you compare groups of animals with different weights.

How do I calculate the stocking rate?

Add up the live weight of all the animals, divide by 1,000 to get the AUs and then divide by the pasture area in acres. For example, 200 steers of 900 lb on 250 acres add up to 180,000 lb, or 180 AU, which is 0.72 AU per acre.

What is the ideal stocking rate?

It depends on the forage, the season, rainfall, fertilization and management. In dry rangeland one AU may need 10 acres or more, while irrigated, well-managed pastures carry one or more AU per acre. The live weight method does not work well when the animals get heavy supplemental feeding.

Is it really free?

Yes, 100% free. No sign-up, no subscription and no usage limits. All Tools123 tools are free and run right in your browser.

Similar tools