Understanding whole farm stocking rate

The whole farm stocking rate defines the total number of livestock present across a farm’s entire area. This metric is crucial for livestock enterprises, as financial evaluations consistently highlight feed utilisation as a key determinant of profitability.​

Efficient feed utilisation directly impacts a farm’s bottom line. By optimising the stocking rate, farms can ensure that the available land and feed resources are used effectively, leading to improved financial outcomes.

Therefore, understanding and managing the whole farm stocking rate is fundamental for sustainable and profitable livestock operations within the UK agricultural context.

How to calculate whole farm stocking rate

Calculating the overall farm stocking rate involves determining the total number of livestock managed across the entire farm area.​

This concept is crucial for livestock enterprises, as financial assessments consistently demonstrate that feed utilisation significantly drives profitability. Given its direct impact on feed utilisation, understanding how to calculate the stocking rate for your farm business is essential. A monthly calculation of the whole farm stocking rate is particularly beneficial, as it helps assess feed demand when combined with data on livestock intake and wastage.

Different livestock systems exhibit variations in reproductive timing and rates, the timing of sales for various livestock categories, and the proportion of different livestock classes maintained. These systemic differences directly influence the stocking rate. The stocking rate tool facilitates the modelling of various livestock systems, illustrating how these changes impact the feed demand curve. Typically, stocking rate is measured in dry sheep equivalents (DSE). A DSE represents the amount of feed required by a two-year-old, 45-kilogram castrated male Merino sheep to maintain its weight, equating to 7.6 Megajoules of metabolizable energy per day. The DSE serves as a standardised unit, enabling comparisons of feed requirements across different livestock types and classes, depending on their reproductive stage.

To effectively use this tool, you will need the following information:

• Livestock numbers, categorised by class, for the assessed period.
• The land area, categorised by feed source.
• An estimation of the number of weeks each feed source was available for grazing.
• The annual rainfall for the assessed period.

The tool provides the following outputs:

• The total number of DSE managed per month.
• The mid-winter and average annual stocking rates.
• A comprehensive graph illustrating the whole farm stocking rate.

Downloadable Stocking rate calculator

Download How to calculate whole farm stocking rate