Calculation of Total Usable Forage:

lbs/ac	×	%	×	ac	=	lbs
Forage Production		Utilization Rate		Number of Acres		Total Forage Available

Calculation of Livestock Forage Requirements:

lbs	×	%	=	lbs/cow/day
Weight of Cow		Dry Matter Intake		Forage Required/Cow/Day

Two Ways to Use This Information:

1. To determine number of head a system can carry:

lbs/cow/day	×	days	=	lbs/cow/grazing period
Forage Required/Cow/Day		Number of Days Grazing		Forage Required/Cow/Grazing Period
lbs	÷	lbs/cow/grazing period	=	cows
Total Forage Available		Forage Required/Cow/Grazing Period		Number of Cows Pasture Will Carry

2. To determine how many days a given herd can graze in a system:

lbs/cow/day	×	cows	=	lbs/herd/day
Forage Required/Cow/Day		Number of Head		Forage Required/Herd/Day
lbs	÷	lbs/herd/day	=	days
Total Forage Available		Forage Required/Herd/Day		Number of Days