Stocking Rate = Forage Available / Forage Required per Animal
Stocking rate is the number of animals per unit of land over a given time. A 1,000-lb cow (1 Animal Unit) consumes about 3% of body weight in forage daily = 30 lbs/day. For a 180-day grazing season, that's 5,400 lbs. If pasture produces 4,000 lbs/acre and you utilize 50% (to maintain plant health), you have 2,000 lbs available = about 2.7 acres per head. Proper stocking prevents overgrazing, maintains root reserves, and ensures regrowth. Rotational grazing can increase utilization to 60-70%. Always leave 3-4" stubble height for cool-season grasses. Adjust stocking rate for drought years — destocking early preserves pasture long-term health.