Cow size is often overlooked when considering stocking rates, which can easily lead to overstocking. For example, if 4,500 pounds of forage per acre was available for consumption reasonable stocking rates for a cow and her calf would be 3.1 acres for a 1,000 pound cow, 3.7 acres for a 1,200 pound cow, and 4.3 acres for a 1,400 pound cow. If only 3,000 pounds of forage per acre was available for consumption reasonable stocking rates would be 13.0 acres for a 1,000 pound cow, 15.6 acres for a 1,200 pound cow, and 18.2 acres for a 1,400 pound cow.
