10.3.4.Management of pastures on a livestock block

Overstocking can be a quick route to destroying pastures and bushland. When starting out, seek advice from the NSW Department of Primary Industries (NSW DPI) and/or your local council and consider the whole environment on your block.
As a rule of thumb, keep at least 70% vegetation cover on your paddocks at all times. If feed is scarce, fence your paddock trees so stock cannot ringbark them.
Stocking rates in Table 1 are recommended by NSW DPI as a rough guide. These figures assume no supplementary feeding and are clearly subject to the quality/productivity of the pasture.
Knowing the capacity of your block and the grazing requirements of your stock is essential. In fact the stocking rate and type of stock may be the most important management decision you make.
It can be difficult to determine the appropriate stocking rate for your property. Indications stocking rate is too high include an increase in bare ground, stock losing condition, erosion occurring and an increase in weeds. However, stocking rate may be too high if there is an increase in less palatable pasture species and old plant growth (litter) is smothering new plants.
USE TABLE ON p12 OF LAYNA book

INCLUDE CONDITION SCORING DIAGRAMS FOR CATTLE AND HORSES?