How many cows per acre

In our cattle per acre calculator, we focus mainly on the first two factors. Check the table from Alberta Forage Manual to see the estimated values of forage production:. A typical lb cow with a calf 1 Animal Unit needs around 0. Similarly, a lb cow with a calf 1. Choose a cattle type you want to graze.

If you know the average animal unit of the herd, you can select the Custom option and input your own value. Enter the total area of the pasture.

Check our acreage calculator if you know only the dimensions of the field. If you don't know the forage yield, choose the annual precipitation and pasture condition.

If you do know the number, you can enter the value yourself. That's all! You can see pasture's cumulative forage production, the total number of cattle , and how many cows per acre can graze on the field in the result section. You can also play with other parameters e. Remaining on cattle-related topics, you may also be interested in checking the cow gestation or animal mortality rate calculator to run your business as efficiently as possible.

Now that you know how much land a cow needs and how to use this cattle per acre calculator, let's proceed to an example. Suppose we want to know the total number of cows that can fit an ac pasture in good condition.

We want to keep a herd with an average weight of lb for the cows with calves. The field's location is relatively wet, which assures the average annual precipitation of to mm. Good pasture condition and precipitation zone provide the average forage yield of 2. An animal equivalent of our cows is 1. We can also ask the question the other way around — how many acres do you need per cow?

If you want to learn more about different pasture condition classes, check the definitions by Alberta Forage Manual :. Keep in mind that the values in the table and the results from our cattle per acre calculator are only rough estimations , as the actual yield of a pasture varies for different legumes and grass types. Also, forage production changes throughout the year. You should be able to graze from 2 to 4 cows on average pasture per every 5 acres. However, this number may rise to 20 assuming excellent pasture conditions and applied irrigation.

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Want more from our blog? Subscribe to Rethink:Rural here Subscribe to get all of our latest content sent directly to your inbox, or contact us directly with any questions you have. There is also a mathematical calculation for determining the number of cows needed per acre. Knowing how many cows you need per acre is a piece of the important information you should have because it has often been the stumbling block for a lot of aspiring farmers, including many of the experienced ones.

While some people have a lot of land for their cows, others have only a limited amount of land, and for both sets of people, having the right information will determine the kind of result they get. Whether yours is one, five, ten, or hundred acres of land; or perhaps you want to know how many cows per acre you need with rotational and intensive grazing, this article is for you. Read on for information on these and more! Getting the correct balance between the number of cows and the amount of land they need is an essential foundation for good grazing management.

And in determining the number of cows you need per acre, there are some factors to consider. These factors include:. For people that have a lot of lands and who want to keep a specific number of cows, the factor often takes the form of the question: what is the minimum amount of land I need for my cows per acre? However, for many of those with a limited amount of land with a sizable number of cows, the question is always: what is the maximum number of cows I need per acre?

Although considering these seeming many factors may appear exhausting, but finding the solution to them could be the difference between success and failure for the farmer. Furthermore, in determining the right balance between the number of cows and the amount of land you need, there is a rule-of-thumb. According to this rule, it takes between 1. Using this rule, you can get a good idea of how many cows per acre you will need.

In a case where information is available on the total acreage, average yield per acre, average animal weight, and grazing days, you can calculate the number of cows you would need per acre using the formula below:. Animals 0.