An established stand-irrigated, cool-season perennial grasses can result in a carrying capacity of six to 12 animal unit months (AUM) per acre. The exact carrying capacity can vary depending on quality of stand, fertilizer, irrigation and grazing management. For 70 pairs, and assuming a moderated carrying capacity of eight AUM per acre, that would calculate to a need of about 60 to 80 acres. A general guide is about one pair per acre for five months. If you were planning to graze six months (May - October), you would probably want to have about 80 acres. Growth of irrigated cool-season pastures does slow down dramatically during July and August. Planning for that slow-down is important, either through having some warm-season pasture to occasionally use or accumulating spring growth in some paddocks. Spring (early-April) planted cool-season pasture will typical have about 50 percent of the production of an established stand and won't have adequate forage for haying or grazing until about mid-July. This recommendation is also to include time for those grasses to establish their root systems. Stands planted in late August always have less weed competition and will have 80 to 90 percent production the following year. The late August planted stands can have their first grazing or haying in mid- to late- May of the following year.

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