Stocking Rate?

[CircleStarRanch]

i have been searching the net for 2 days trying to find a "chart" that would show me the stocking rate or carrying capacity for various parts of northern Arizona. We are looking at several parcels ranging from 160 to 640 acres. I have found the method to determine this on your own, but that assumes you are on the land. I just need to get a ball-park figure. All we are really looking for is the answer to "How many spring stockers can we free range on X acres without supplimental feeding?" We are thinking get 6 head - sell 5 in the fall, butcher one.

Any help is appreciated.

-Dutch

[agmantoo]

Contact the agriculture extension agent for the area you are interested in purchasing.

[ksfarmer]

Originally Posted by agmantoo

Contact the agriculture extension agent for the area you are interested in purchasing.

agmantoo is correct. Only way to get local information is through your local sources such as the ag extension office.

[tinknal]

If this is established ranch land the Realtor should be able to tell you how many AUs a particular piece of property is rated for.

[rancher1913]

just an educated guess but most stocking rates for arizona and new mexico run around needing about 20 to 40 acres to the animal. thats why you hear of 50 thousand acre spreads that only have a few hundred head.

[oregon woodsmok]

I'd have to see the land. Around here, a cow need anywhere from a full acre of irrigated pasture to 1,000 acres of desert (40 MPH cows, have to move at 40 MPH to cover enough ground in a day to get enough feed).

Some of the land in Oregon wouldn't support a Jack Rabbit and your cows would starve to death.

[MARYDVM]

Down here in southern AZ, I drive past a few places that range cattle. All I can say is the scrawny things are still alive at the end of the year. They sure don't look like they gain any weight.