The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Smallholding => Land Management => Topic started by: cuckoo on August 17, 2013, 09:40:59 pm

Title: Working out appropriate stocking density
Post by: cuckoo on August 17, 2013, 09:40:59 pm

Hi All,


I am trying to put together a credible business plan for goats.  When calculating how many animal units per hectare / acre - should you include acreage left for growing hay therefore effectively reducing the stocking density. 


How many goats would you allow per hectare / acre taking into account wanting to produce your own forage


Thanks

Title: Re: Working out appropriate stocking density
Post by: mab on August 22, 2013, 05:17:27 pm

my wild guess (and it is just a wild guess - I don't have goats) would be ~2 goats/acre. maybe 3, particularly if you can manage buying a little feed for a long winter. Also depends on type/size of goats.


You might get a better answer if you ask in the goat section (sometimes folks don't read threads outside their own field of interest very often (like me))

Title: Re: Working out appropriate stocking density
Post by: Rosemary on August 22, 2013, 05:25:54 pm

There's just been a question in Goats about stocking density. Because they aren't grazing animals, I don't think there are any standard figures - most folk seem to feed hay and branches and stuff and just give them a loafing area.