Goats per Acre


The number of goats that can be kept per acre depends on the quality of the land and the purpose of the goats:


Poor or sparse pasture: 2–4 goats per acre


Good, fertile land: 6–8 goats per acre


Land clearing: 8–12 goats per acre per month


Here are some other things to consider when determining how many goats to keep per acre:


Forage: Goats prefer roughage and will eat shrubs and trees before grass. The land should provide the type of forage that goats like to eat.

Overstocking: It’s important to not overstock pastures to allow for forage renewal and to reduce parasites.

Housing: Goats prefer group spaces for housing.

Inside space: Goats need a minimum of 20 square feet of inside space.

Stocking rate calculations: Some calculations may use animal units, which are based on the live weight of a cow and calf. For example, a goat with two kids would be roughly 5.8 animal units.


You can also watch this video to learn more about how many goats or sheep per acre: