Plants less than 3 inches in height will not provide a good mouthful. Forage demands are often determined as a percent of body weight. Stocking rates may be determined in this manner. For example, a 1500 lb. A pasture capable of producing 3,000 lbs. of DM for the season, would require 2.5 acres for that grazing unit.
Sheep are similar in their forage requirements to cattle and horses.
Due to a more inefficient digestive system they usually requires 15 per cent to 25 per cent more forage. Goats browse different species and are often used in multiple species grazing systems to make better use of the available forages including weeds and brush. Stocking rates should always be conservative and be continuously monitored to avoid lack of supply during times of drought. Some tools, such as a pasture disk, are available to estimate available forage. Location of bush, streams, ditches, slopes, roads Location of all existing fences Location of old and new water sites Aerial photos are very useful to provide an accurate picture of the topography as well as the acres involved in each parcel.