A typical family owns 150-200 sheep and goats, and at least five or six donkeys, which are used as pack animals. These may represent overstocking and over-peopling. A Lapp family may possess 1000 reindeer, but usually it's half that many. 200 is the minimum number of reindeer needed to provide for a family of 4-5 adults. He would further rent 8 cows and pasture lands from a lord.
Pasture productivity can vary widely from that guideline.
Lush improved pastures can provide grazing for 10-12 ewes with their lambs per acre. Stocking rates for aggressive rotation, with substantial rests for the pastures after each grazing cycle, can reach 6 cows or 36 sheep per acre on improved pastures. At the other end of the scale, a cow or horse would have trouble supporting itself on five or even ten acres of dry Western native grassland, and one sheep per acre is the rule on some Australian sheep stations. Last updated 15 Apr 97.