Livestock Units
Livestock Units(LUs) are a way of comparing the nutritional requirements of grazing animals. They therefore assist with the calculation of stocking densities.
One LU will require roughly one acre of land for summer grazing and one acre of land for conservation to provide forage for winter.
A mature 650kg Friesian cow producing a 45kg calf and 4,500 litres of milk at 3.6% butterfat is 1 livestock unit.
| Animal | Livestock units |
|---|---|
| Dairy bull | 0.65 |
| Beef cow | 0.75 |
| Beef bull | 0.65 |
| Other cattle 0-12 months | 0.34 |
| Other cattle 12-24 months | 0.65 |
| Other cattle over 24 months | 0.8 |
| Horses | 0.8 |
| Ewes and ewe replacements (lightweight) | 0.06 |
| Ewes and ewe replacements (mediumweight) | 0.08 |
| Ewes and ewe replacements (heavyweight) | 0.11 |
| Rams | 0.08 |
| Lambs birth to store | 0.04 |
| Lambs birth to fat | 0.04 |
| Lambs birth to hoggets | 0.04 |
| Lambs purchased stores | 0.04 |
About Rosemary Champion
Rosemary lives on a 12 acre smallholding in Angus, in the east of Scotland, where she keeps Ryeland Sheep, Shetland cattle and assorted poultry. She was destined to be a smallholder from an early age.
Further Reading
 Weed Management for Organic Farmers, Growers and Smallholders Gareth Davies |  Improved Grassland Management John Frame |
