Cattle Talk

[Iowa guy1]

In my part of the world, it is generally accepted that a beef cow will need 2 plus acres for the grazing season (say 7 months or 210 days).

I think a beef cow would eat 30 lbs of grass a day, or 6,300 pounds for the 210 grazing season.   So we're looking at 3 Tons or a little more.

But then I'm thinking about hay yields and isn't it reasonable to get a 4 ton yield for raising hay in Iowa in an average year?

So why can't 1 acre support a beef cow for the season in an average year?

Does that much forage get overlooked by cows or trampled or what?   Maybe bring in some sheep?


Thanks.  I appreciate it.