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Stocking Rate Answers

Answer 1

Assume: 8 inches available for grazing, 300 pounds DM/acre-inch, and 75% grazing efficiency

 (8 inches * 300 lb/ac-in DM) * (240 acres) * (.75 grazing efficiency)

(1,400 pound cow) * (.04 intake rate) * (180 days)

= 43 cows * 4 cycles
= 172 cows

Answer 2

Assume: 4 inches available for grazing, 325 pounds DM/acre-inch, and a 60% grazing efficiency

(4 inches * 150 lb/ac-in DM) * (60 acres) * (.60 grazing efficiency)
(1,100 pound horse) * (.02 intake rate) * (20 horses)

= 49 grazing days

Walter is loosing money by only being able to graze about 14% of the year.  He needs to increase pasture area, add different forages, or decrease the number of boarder horses.  Decreasing the number of horses would be the simplest solution.  

Answer 3

Assume: 12 inches available for grazing, 250 pounds DM/acre-inch, and a 45% grazing efficiency

(12 inches * 250 lb/ac-in DM) * (40 acres) * (.45 grazing efficiency)
(600 pound stocker) * (.03 intake rate) * (60 stockers)

= about 50 days

This is adequate time to compensate for slow cool-season forage growth during the summer months.