How many cattle per acre

My results contradicted the message that you should strive for feeding no hay on your cattle farm. I asked him how he was going to get to the point of not feeding any hay on his farm. He said he was told to just keep grazing through the winter and to not feed hay!

I tried to tell him in as kind words as I could find that this was wishful thinking, and that wishful thinking will not provide grass for the cows to eat on a cold, windy February day. This young cattle farmer seemed just as perplexed as the farmer on those steep Eden Shale slopes. He did not understand the hay-feeding and stocking-rate tradeoff, and thought he could continually reduce his winter hay feeding without at some point reducing his stocking rate, and consequently if successful in feeding no hay would end up with a stocking rate that was too low.

The farmer east of Lexington also did not understand the hay-feeding and stocking-rate tradeoff, but was on the other side of the proverbial misinformation fence. Consequently, he was stocked way too high. The two-acre per cow rule of thumb may have had a purpose and may have been useful generations ago.

Possibly cattle prices were considerably higher relative to hay costs at that time, thus increasing the range of most profitable hay feeding days. Possibly the average cow size was a lot smaller. I do not know for sure. However, in our current era, there are few soil-management-cow size combinations in Kentucky that I believe two acres per cow will be anything close to the most profitable stocking rate, and will likely lead to a steady flow of losses.

I would rather not have a rule-of-thumb for anything that is as variable as stocking rates. If someone new to cattle is seeking guidance on how many cows their acre farm can handle, I would rather not tell them a specific number without additional explanation. That might involve starting out with acres per cow cows on the acre farm and seeing what it results in, and slowly adjusting the stocking rate to reach and stay in that optimal hay feeding range. It will not necessarily be a static number.

That was a gift bestowed on us by a higher order. How we choose to take stewardship of that gift is up to each of us. Will we be lean and mean, or shiny and bloated? The quickest way for most farms in Kentucky to get back on the path of low-cost production is to base their stocking rate on profitability, not bragging rights based on maximum production.

Click here to start the process! I very much hope that you found this article helpful! This information is just scraping the surface of a very in depth science. Forage production is heavily researched around the world, as are livestock production and gains. There are a number of amazing people and resources that will help you on your way. Here are a few that helped me on mine! Skip to content. Search for:. Home Livestock How many cows per acre in Texas? What is an Animal Unit?

Acres per Cow.. How much forage does your land produce? How much forage will you leave behind for regrowth? Utilization Rates…. How to calculate how many cattle to run on your Property? In this scenario the it is more difficult to estimate total available forage. Sometimes landowners would associate forage production for acres in layouts like this.

In this case, the landowner may over estimate available forage. Formula calculating total available forage from example above.

Here is what our total annual production looks like: This is how total forage production from your property could be allocated. Soil type is often overlooked when evaluating a property. For most properties, the Web Soil Survey can be used to identify soil types and their relative production potential.

Stocking strategies will vary based on operational goals, management style, and risk tolerance. Two main approaches can be taken. An aggressive stocking rate will allow for the opportunity to run more cattle on a given property. However, any time conditions are not optimal, additional feed resources must be purchased or herd numbers reduced. This approach provides some insurance against drought and other adverse weather conditions.

In most situations, it results in greater plant health, animal performance, and financial success for the operation. In most years, this approach allows the operator to manage extra forage, instead of trying to figure out how to deal with a lack of forage. This extra forage could be baled for hay and sold or stored for future use. It could also be used to retain ownership of calves through a stocker phase. Nowadays everyone seems to know someone close to them or in their immediate family who has cancer.

It was thanks to a family friend who loaned them the documentary: Food, Inc. Nick explains:. Polyface Farms and its farmer, the now-famous grass farmer, author and food activist Joel Salatin of Virginia, was featured in Food, Inc. Rotational grazing works best when used with a variety of different animals on a farm. In addition to cattle, Nick also raises sheep, pigs, meat birds and laying hens. He plans to add turkeys to the rotation next year.

This breaks down the cow manure quicker so the grass absorbs it as natural fertilizer, while the hens pick through it eating the parasites and the fly larvae and leave their manure. Besides the obvious benefits of natural pasture fertilization and feeding, Nick explains how this cycle also throws pesky parasites through a loop. But when you mix everything up with sheep, cattle, hens, etc.

Then the hens come through and clean up patties and remaining parasites. THAT is how you have more healthy animals per acre without ever relying on chemical fertilizers, drugs, or supplemental feed. Ultimately the answer to this question depends on the maturity and quality of your pasture. But they key is to move them every day.

But by using the same rotational grazing practices, he is currently raising up to 40 cows a year on his 50 acres. Starting off, I put 25 head of cattle out there right off the bat and started managing the pastures. I was able to double production immediately because I managed the pastures better. Nick butchers a maximum of three cows once a month. This is in addition to what he produces from his sheep, meat birds and laying hens.

Otherwise, he lets the cows manage the grass and hay through grazing and foraging year-round. With a brand new pasture, Nick recommends you start by clearing out thistles, etc.

Each 12 X 24 foot coop houses hens comfortably. Nick prefers a mixed breed dog as a guard animal because of their temperament and health. Nick believes this is the ideal breed of dog for his rotational grazing operation, as he protects the hens from both large predators like coyotes, and small pests like possums or raccoons. Nick actually had to excuse himself for 10 minutes during this interview to go help Chase deal with 3 coyotes in the pasture.

For the homesteader or hobby farmer Nick offers this advice:. The key is to build your soil up and manage it the right way. Yes, it takes a little bit longer to do it the right way and stay away from chemical fertilizers, herbicides, etc.

Then work your way up from there. As passionately as Nick believes in organic farming as true to nature as possible, he has no plans or desire to become certified organic. If one of my animals was so sick that it needed antibiotics then I would give it to the animal.