Know your numbers
Practical articles for people who run stock. Every figure links to the research or the government source it came from, and where the evidence is thin, we say so.
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Stocking rate vs stocking density: meaning, formula and carrying capacity
Stocking rate vs stocking density explained: the meaning of each, the stocking rate formula, AUM, DSE and LU/ha, and how carrying capacity fits in.
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How to tell sheep from goats: tails, coats, diet, behaviour and chromosomes
How to tell sheep from goats: sheep tails hang down and goat tails point up. Coat, beard, horns, diet, behaviour and chromosome numbers (54 vs 60) explained.
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Sheep tag age colours: the year of birth colour chart, eID dates and which ear
Sheep tag age colours by year in Australia (2026 is orange, 2027 light green), plus eID dates by state, which ear the tag goes in and UK tagging rules.
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Mustering cattle: what it means, how it is done, and how to keep it low stress
What mustering cattle means, how it is done on horses, bikes, with dogs and helicopters, low-stress flight zone handling, and counting the mob after.
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Stolen cattle and livestock theft: how common it is, how to prevent it and how to report it
Livestock theft and stolen cattle: NSW, UK and US figures from police and official sources, police prevention tips, and how to report stolen stock quickly.
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Livestock record keeping: what to record, legal rules and a simple template
Livestock record keeping explained: NLIS and LPA records in Australia, the UK cattle holding register, US traceability rules, and columns for a herd record.
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How to find lost cattle: what to check first, who to call, and how to spot losses early
How to find lost cattle: check fences, water and neighbours' mobs first, then the council, pound and police. Sourced steps for Australia, the UK and the US.
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How to count sheep: on the farm, and in bed
How to count sheep on a farm: through a gate or race, in twos or fives, by tally and by draft. Plus what the research says about counting sheep to sleep.
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How to count cattle: through a gate, in the paddock and from the air
How to count cattle accurately: single file through a gate or race, in small groups, in the paddock and from drone photos, plus why counts go wrong.
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How many sheep per acre? Stocking rates in Australia, New Zealand, the UK and the US
How many sheep per acre or hectare? Sourced stocking rates for NSW, Victoria, SA, WA, Queensland, NZ, the UK, Ireland and the US, with DSE explained.
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How many sheep are in Australia? Flock numbers for Australia, NZ and the world
How many sheep in Australia? 65.8 million at 30 June 2025 (ABS), down 8%. Plus state numbers, New Zealand, the UK, the world and sheep per person.
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How many horses per acre? Land per horse in Australia, the UK and the US
How many horses per acre or hectare? Sourced guidance from Western Australia, Victoria, Queensland, the UK Defra code and US extension, with DSE figures.
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How many goats per acre? Stocking rates for grazing and brush clearing
How many goats per acre or hectare? Sourced goat DSE ratings, Australian and US stocking rates, Texas ag valuation examples and brush clearing rates.
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How many cows are there in the world? Cattle numbers by country
How many cows are in the world? About 1.58 billion cattle in 2024 (FAOSTAT), led by Brazil and India, plus the latest Australian and US herd counts.
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How many cattle per acre? Sourced stocking figures for Australia, the US, Ireland, the UK and New Zealand
How many cattle per acre? From under 1 acre to about 79 acres per cow in NSW, with sourced figures for Queensland, the US, Ireland, the UK and NZ.
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What does head of cattle mean? Head vs herd, mob and flock, and average herd size
A head of cattle is one animal. What head, herd, mob and flock mean, plus average herd sizes in Australia, the US, UK, Ireland and New Zealand.
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Dry sheep equivalent (DSE): what it means, DSE tables and how to calculate it
What a dry sheep equivalent (DSE) is, sourced DSE tables for sheep and cattle, how to calculate DSE per hectare, and how DSE compares with the AE.
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Counting cattle with drones: how accurate is it, and what are the rules?
Counting cattle with drones: what published UAV studies report on accuracy, why moving stock and calves cause errors, and drone rules in Australia, US, UK.
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Cattle tagging: NLIS ear tags, which ear, and the rules in Australia, the UK and US
Cattle tagging rules explained: NLIS breeder and post-breeder tags, which ear the tag goes in, and official tagging rules in Australia, the UK, US and NZ.
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AI livestock counting: how accurate is it for cattle and sheep?
AI livestock counting explained: what peer-reviewed studies report for cattle and sheep, why occlusion and dense herds cause errors, and the honest limits.