Grazing Paddock Calculator
Rotational grazing paddock count and size from rest schedule.
What it does
Rotational grazing rests grass while herds eat. Paddock counts come from rest divided by graze, plus one always occupied.
The tool above runs the rule. Ten acres with 7 day grazes and 28 day rests needs 5 paddocks of 2 acres, moving weekly. The metric match is 4 ha in 0.8 ha slices.
Rest grows roots. Four weeks suits spring flush, longer suits summer slump and drought, with residuals judging better than calendars.
The plus one matters. Without it the last paddock never fully recovers, and the rotation grazes itself short.
Moves stay weekly in the default. Fast growth may shorten grazes, slow growth lengthens rests, and gates set real shapes.
How to use
- Pick imperial (acres) or metric (ha).
- Enter pasture area.
- Enter graze days: 7 suits weekly moves.
- Enter rest days: 28 suits spring.
- Read paddocks first, then acres each.
- Move on schedule, watch residuals.
Formula
- area
- Total pasture area.
- graze
- Days herds eat one paddock.
- rest
- Days each paddock recovers.
The plus one keeps one paddock grazing while the rest recover. Metric runs hectares with matching counts.
Worked example
Example: 10 acres, 7 on 28 off
Imperial defaults: 10 acres with 7 day grazes and 28 day rests. These are also the default values, so the page opens on this answer.
- Pasture: 10 acres.
- Graze: 7 days per paddock.
- Rest: 28 days recovery.
- Paddocks: ceil(28 / 7) + 1 = 5 paddocks.
- Each: 10 / 5 = 2 acres.
- Tool shows 5 paddocks, 2 acres each, Move every 7 days.
Reference table
| Schedule | Paddocks | Each of 10 acres |
|---|---|---|
| 7 on, 21 off | 4 paddocks | 2.5 acres |
| 7 on, 28 off | 5 paddocks | 2 acres |
| 14 on, 42 off | 4 paddocks | 2.5 acres |
| 7 on, 28 off metric | 5 paddocks | 0.8 ha |
Limits
- Layout math only. Forage varies wildly.
- Drought breaks schedules.
- Water and gates shape paddocks.
- Stocking rates need separate plans.
Common mistakes
- Skipping the plus one paddock.
- Grazing to dirt before moving.
- Fixed calendars in drought.
- No water in far paddocks.
- Tiny paddocks trampled to mud.
Try it yourself
Quick checks. Answers sit tucked under each question.
21 acres, 7 graze, 42 rest?
ceil(42 / 7) + 1 = 7 paddocks. Each is 21 / 7 = 3 acres.
8 ha, 10 graze, 30 rest metric?
ceil(30 / 10) + 1 = 4 paddocks. Each is 8 / 4 = 2 ha.
Questions
How many paddocks?
Divide rest by graze, round up, plus one. Here ceil(28 / 7) + 1 = 5 paddocks.
Acres per paddock?
Divide acres by paddocks. Here 10 / 5 = 2 acres each.
Why rest pasture?
Rest grows roots while herds eat elsewhere. Twenty eight days suits fast spring growth.
When to move?
Move every graze length: 7 days here. Watch residuals, not calendars, in drought.
One shape fits all?
Yes. Weeds, water gaps, and gates shift real layouts.
Does this fix overgrazing?
No. Overgrazing needs destocking, not math.