--- title: Understanding the Grazing Guide description: Grazing --- [Skip to content](https://help.pasture.io/understanding-the-grazing-guide#main-content) English Show submenu for translations [![Pasture.io](https://help.pasture.io/hs-fs/hubfs/logo%20square.jpg?width=100&height=75&name=logo%20square.jpg)](https://pasture.io/) Open main navigation Close main navigation - English Show submenu for translations How can we help you? - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. 1. [Help Center](https://help.pasture.io/?hsLang=en) 2. [Application Usage](https://help.pasture.io/application-usage?hsLang=en) 3. [Grazing Planner](https://help.pasture.io/application-usage?hsLang=en#grazing-planner) # Understanding the Grazing Guide ## The grazing guide helps you make informed grazing decisions by showing daily pasture demand per animal and the growth rate needed to maintain feed. You can apply filters to view specific herds or tags, with results updating instantly.  **Where the numbers come from** We use your monthly targets for growth and pre- and post-graze covers. These are combined with your farm’s growth from the past 7 days and the expected growth for the next 7 days, using only the paddocks and herds you’ve selected. If there’s no 7-day forecast, we use an average of your monthly target and your latest growth reading. - Monthly targets live in Settings → Monthly Targets. - Growth outlook comes from your farm’s 7-day outlook (next and last week). - Filters decide which paddocks and herds are counted. ![](https://help.pasture.io/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Jan-06-2026-01-00-32-2498-AM.png?width=670&height=321&name=image-png-Jan-06-2026-01-00-32-2498-AM.png) **Input summary** is a reminder of which figures are used for the calculations - **Monthly Pre-graze** comes from your monthly targets. - **Filtered Animals** is the number of animals in the herd you’ve selected using the filter options. - **Weighted Utilisation** is the usable part of the paddock that has not been spoiled or trampled. - **Growth Rate** comes from your monthly targets as well as the last 7 days and next 7 days avg. - **Monthly Post-graze** comes from your monthly targets. - **Filtered Area** is the total area you’ve selected using tags, herds, or other filter options. *More information on using the Filter can be found on the Help Centre* [How to Use the Filter](https://help.pasture.io/how-to-use-the-filter?hsLang=en)   **How each metric is calculated** - **Rotation Length**  We take the **target pre-graze cover and subtract the target post-graze cover***(from your Monthly Targets).*  We then **divide that by the average growth rate**.  *The average growth rate is worked out using your monthly target, growth from the last 7 days, and expected growth for the next 7 days.*  If the 7-day outlook isn’t available, we use an average of your monthly target and your latest growth reading.   - **Area allocation**  Filtered **utilisable hectares** *divided by* **rotation length** (ha/day). If you are aiming for specific areas of the farm, use the filter option at the top right of your screen. This is the area being used in the calculation divided by the rotational length which you have set in your Monthly Targets               **Utilisable hectares**                          *divided by*        **Rotational length**     **= Area allocation** ![](https://help.pasture.io/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Jan-06-2026-01-12-10-6626-AM.png?width=264&height=90&name=image-png-Jan-06-2026-01-12-10-6626-AM.png)![](https://help.pasture.io/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Jan-06-2026-01-12-18-1952-AM.png?width=303&height=154&name=image-png-Jan-06-2026-01-12-18-1952-AM.png)    **In this case 171  ÷**  **25 = 6.84 (rounded up to 6.9)**    - **Pasture by Animal** **Area allocated** *(the hectares selected in the filter tab)* **multiplied by the grazing difference** *(the gap between pre- and post-grazing targets),* **multiplied by feed utilisation**, **then divided by the number of animals** (*selected in the filter options)* - **Growth Rate Required** **Grazing difference** *(the difference between pre and post grazing set in the monthly target)* **divided by rotation length** *(set in Monthly Targets)* *This needs to be less than the growth rate in the wedge*   **How to use the Grazing Guide** - A short rotation or high “growth rate required” means you should slow the rotation or add extra feed. - Low pasture per animal means you may need to tighten allocations or provide supplements. - Always check your monthly targets to make sure your pre- and post-graze covers match the season. - [Application Usage](https://help.pasture.io/application-usage?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Paddock Settings and Details](https://help.pasture.io/application-usage?hsLang=en#paddock-settings-and-details) - [FAQ](https://help.pasture.io/application-usage?hsLang=en#faq) - [Farm Dashboard](https://help.pasture.io/application-usage?hsLang=en#farm-dashboard) - [Grazing Planner](https://help.pasture.io/application-usage?hsLang=en#grazing-planner) - [Setting up your Farm](https://help.pasture.io/application-usage?hsLang=en#setting-up-your-farm) - [Mapping](https://help.pasture.io/application-usage?hsLang=en#mapping) - [Web Browsers and Devices](https://help.pasture.io/application-usage?hsLang=en#web-browsers-and-devices) - 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[Overlay](https://help.pasture.io/paddocks?hsLang=en#overlay) - [Livestock](https://help.pasture.io/livestock?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Grazing](https://help.pasture.io/livestock?hsLang=en#grazing) - [Herds](https://help.pasture.io/livestock?hsLang=en#herds) - [People](https://help.pasture.io/people?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Managing Users](https://help.pasture.io/people?hsLang=en#managing-users) - [Task Manager](https://help.pasture.io/people?hsLang=en#task-manager) - [Integrations](https://help.pasture.io/integrations?hsLang=en) - [Feed](https://help.pasture.io/feed?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Feedstuff](https://help.pasture.io/feed?hsLang=en#feedstuff) - [Creating a Silo](https://help.pasture.io/feed?hsLang=en#creating-a-silo) - [Feed Inventory](https://help.pasture.io/feed?hsLang=en#feed-inventory) - [How to Add Feed and Nutrition to a Grazing](https://help.pasture.io/feed?hsLang=en#how-to-add-feed-and-nutrition-to-a-grazing) - [How to Create a Detailed Grazing](https://help.pasture.io/feed?hsLang=en#how-to-create-a-detailed-grazing) [![Pasture.io](https://help.pasture.io/hs-fs/hubfs/logo%20square.jpg?width=24&height=24&name=logo%20square.jpg "Pasture.io")](https://pasture.io) HQ in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia - 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