{
  "slug": "cattle-stocking-rate",
  "title": "Cattle Stocking Rate Calculator",
  "heading": "Stocking Rate Calculator",
  "category": "other",
  "url": "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/cattle-stocking-rate",
  "summary": "Animal units your pasture supports and grazing days available.",
  "description": "Match herd demand to forage supply using animal unit months. Enter pasture acres, forage production, and utilization to see how many head the ground actually carries.",
  "formula": "AUM = (forage lb/acre × utilization) ÷ 780 lb per animal unit month.",
  "dateModified": "2026-09-30",
  "run_url": "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/api/public/calc?tool=cattle-stocking-rate",
  "inputs": [
    {
      "id": "acres",
      "label": "Pasture acres",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 200,
      "unit": null,
      "min": 1,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "forage",
      "label": "Forage production",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 2500,
      "unit": "lb/acre",
      "min": 100,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "util",
      "label": "Harvest efficiency",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 35,
      "unit": "%",
      "min": 10,
      "max": 70
    },
    {
      "id": "cowLb",
      "label": "Average cow weight",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 1300,
      "unit": "lb",
      "min": 400,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "months",
      "label": "Grazing season",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 6,
      "unit": "months",
      "min": 1,
      "max": null
    }
  ],
  "outputs": [
    {
      "id": "head",
      "label": "Head the pasture supports",
      "format": "decimal",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": true
    },
    {
      "id": "acresPerCow",
      "label": "Acres per cow",
      "format": "decimal",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "aum",
      "label": "Animal unit months available",
      "format": "decimal",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "usable",
      "label": "Usable forage (lb)",
      "format": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "grazingDays",
      "label": "Grazing days at that stocking",
      "format": "decimal",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    }
  ],
  "worked_example": {
    "inputs": [
      "Pasture acres: 200",
      "Forage production: 2500 lb/acre",
      "Harvest efficiency: 35 %",
      "Average cow weight: 1300 lb",
      "Grazing season: 6 months"
    ],
    "outputs": [
      "Head the pasture supports: 28.8",
      "Acres per cow: 6.95",
      "Animal unit months available: 224.4",
      "Usable forage (lb): 175,000",
      "Grazing days at that stocking: 180"
    ]
  },
  "how_to": {
    "title": "How to use this",
    "steps": [
      "Enter pasture acres.",
      "Enter forage production (lb/acre).",
      "Enter harvest efficiency (%).",
      "Enter average cow weight (lb).",
      "Enter grazing season (months).",
      "Read your head the pasture supports on the right — it updates as you type.",
      "Hit Share to keep the scenario or send it to someone."
    ]
  },
  "scenarios": [
    {
      "name": "Conservative",
      "description": "Lower-end numbers — what if things land soft?",
      "values": {
        "acres": 120,
        "forage": 1500,
        "util": 20,
        "cowLb": 800,
        "months": 3.5999999999999996
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Typical",
      "description": "Defaults — the most common real-world setup.",
      "values": {
        "acres": 200,
        "forage": 2500,
        "util": 35,
        "cowLb": 1300,
        "months": 6
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Ambitious",
      "description": "Higher-end numbers — what if things really pop?",
      "values": {
        "acres": 320,
        "forage": 4000,
        "util": 55,
        "cowLb": 2100,
        "months": 9.600000000000001
      }
    }
  ],
  "limitations": [
    "Estimates assume standard, average conditions — local rules, pricing, and materials vary.",
    "Results are rounded for readability; add a buffer before ordering, booking, or committing.",
    "Double-check anything with a real cost attached against a local quote."
  ],
  "faq": [
    {
      "q": "Why only 35% utilization?",
      "a": "The take-half-leave-half rule, adjusted for trampling and fouling. Continuous grazing lands near 25–35%; intensive rotation can reach 50–60%."
    },
    {
      "q": "What is an animal unit?",
      "a": "A 1,000 lb cow with calf consuming about 26 lb of dry matter a day, or 780 lb a month."
    }
  ],
  "related": [],
  "license": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "citation": "RevenueLab — Cattle Stocking Rate Calculator (https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/cattle-stocking-rate)"
}