Author Topic: Grazers per acre (Read 978 times)

Creaturesgreatandsmall · « **on:** April 19, 2021, 04:01:50 pm »

Hi I am Jane a new member to the forum. I have approx an acre of land/ grass. I have at the moment got 4 Pygmy goats two Hampshire down sheep 2 Toulouse geese and some chickens. I am trying to get a sense of how may grazing animals this amount of land can sustain? All help and advice gratefully received

harmony · « **Reply #1 on:** April 22, 2021, 06:07:00 pm »

Hello Jane

That is in part going to depend on your land and the type of grazing available. Also you need to split it up into smaller paddocks so you can manage it and allow resting and regrowth. Have you got a good water supply? What do you want from your animals long term? Do you want to breed?

HappyHippy · « **Reply #2 on:** April 22, 2021, 07:55:42 pm »

Hello and welcome to the forum

Geese and sheep are generally 6 to the acre, for year round occupancy. You might be able to stretch it out a bit more by restricting access and giving extra supplementary feed during the winter. I'm not sure what the stocking ratio for goats is though - but someone else will be along soon

Look forward to hearing how you get on.
Karen

Backinwellies · « **Reply #3 on:** April 23, 2021, 07:42:35 am »

Probably not much more than you have now would be my response ..... but depends totally on where you are and the aspect and height of your land ................. here 700 ft up winter (counted as when grass grows) is Nov to End April ..... (this yr without rain is going to be June I thnk!)

smaller rotated paddocks will help ..... but HH 's 6 sheep to the acre is very optimistic even on good ground .... 5 max I would say (more like 3 here).... so your 2 sheep, geese and goats is probably as many as You will comfortably manage.