Pasture Stocking Rate Calculator
How the Pasture Stocking Rate Calculator Works
This free calculator uses the standard Australian feed-budget approach to estimate how many head of cattle, sheep, or goats a paddock can carry. Enter your paddock size, the pasture cover at the start and end of grazing, your typical pasture growth rate, and the number of grazing days — the calculator instantly works out how much dry matter is available and how many head each livestock class can support.
The same tool also includes a Hay Calculator for working out how many kilograms or tonnes of hay you'll need for a mob over a feeding window — handy for planning feed-out periods through dry seasons or winter joining.
Pasture vs Hay — Two Calculators in One
Use the toggle at the top of the calculator to switch between:
- Pasture Calculator — works out the recommended stocking rate (head per paddock) based on the feed available in your pasture over a grazing window.
- Hay Calculator — works out total hay required (kilograms and tonnes) for a mob you're feeding over a set number of days. Cattle, sheep, and goats supported.
Typical Stocking Rates Across Australia
Stocking rates vary widely across Australia due to differences in pasture growth, climate, and pasture type. The calculator's region picker auto-fills typical pasture growth for your area. Here's a rough guide:
| Region | Pasture type | Typical stocking rate |
|---|---|---|
| Coastal NSW / VIC (high rainfall) | Improved temperate | 12–25 DSE/ha |
| Northern Tablelands NSW | Improved or native | 4–12 DSE/ha (improved); 1.8–4.7 (native) |
| Slopes / Mid-Western NSW | Improved temperate | 3–8 DSE/ha |
| Western NSW rangelands | Native rangeland | 0.3–1.0 DSE/ha |
| Wheatbelt VIC / SA / WA | Annual pasture | 2–6 DSE/ha |
| QLD subtropical (Darling Downs, Brigalow) | Buffel / sown | 4–9 DSE/ha |
| QLD tropical (north coast) | Sown tropical | 6–12 DSE/ha |
| QLD/NT Mitchell grasslands | Native | ~1 AE per 8–15 ha |
These are starting figures only — your actual carrying capacity depends on soil, rainfall, pasture composition, and management. Always ground-truth with feed-on-offer measurements.
When to Use the Calculator
- Planning a paddock rotation and need to know how many head fits for the next 7, 30, or 60 days
- Working out hay requirements for winter feeding or a dry season
- Budgeting feed for a finishing mob of steers
- Comparing pasture options across paddocks of different sizes
- Quick sanity-check before buying more breeders or moving stock
Get Your Saved Calculation as a Free PDF
Below the calculator results, pop your name and email in to download a free PDF report of your scenario — paddock details, stocking rate by class, daily DM and total feed required. The PDF is yours to keep, share with your agronomist, or take to the bank for a finance discussion. Tick the "Include both calculators" checkbox if you want pasture and hay results in the same report.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is DSE?
DSE stands for Dry Sheep Equivalent — the feed required by a 50 kg dry merino wether (or non-pregnant ewe at maintenance) to maintain bodyweight. It's the standard Australian unit for comparing feed demand across different livestock classes. A pregnant ewe might be 1.7 DSE; a 450 kg dry cow is around 9 DSE; a lactating cow with calf at foot can be 14 DSE or more.
How accurate is the calculator?
The calculator uses Australian extension publication values (cross-checked across multiple sources) for pasture allowances per livestock class. The formula is the standard feed-budget approach used across the AU agriculture industry. That said, your specific paddock will vary — soil type, grass species, rainfall, and grazing pressure all change the real numbers. Use the calculator as a starting point, not a guarantee. Always confirm with feed-on-offer measurements.
Why does the calculator ask for pasture cover at start and end of grazing?
The feed-budget approach calculates the difference between starting pasture cover and a target end cover (you should leave residual cover so the pasture recovers). The number you're left with — plus growth over the grazing window — is the feed actually available for stock. Typical end-of-grazing residuals are 1,000–1,500 kg DM/ha for temperate pastures.
Can I use the calculator for sheep and goats too?
Yes — switch tabs at the top to Sheep or Goats. The pasture calculator shows class allowances for merino wethers, crossbred ewes, ewes with lambs, dry does, and lactating does. The hay calculator has simple sheep and goat dropdowns too.
Does the calculator save my data?
The calculator runs entirely in your browser — no server stores your inputs. The PDF is generated on your device and downloads directly. If you fill in the lead form, your name, email, and state are sent to our CRM so we can stay in touch about livestock tag offerings — that's the only data we collect.
Related — Browse Our Livestock Tags
Farm & Acre Co. is an Australian family-owned reseller of Allflex, Leader, and FOFIA tags. Browse by category:
More Reading
- NLIS Tag Colours by Year — Complete Australian Guide
- Custom Cattle Tags Australia
- Sheep EID Tags Australia 2026
- eID Tags Explained — Complete Guide for Australian Farmers
- How to Install Ear Tags Correctly on Cattle and Sheep / Goats
Need livestock tags? We're an Australian family-owned rural supplier — straight prices, real support.
Shop livestock tags →