What should be the paddock size on beef farms?

With the grazing season now in full swing, Teagasc Beef Specialist, Niall Kerins takes a closer look at paddock sizes on beef farms.

Grazed grass is the cheapest and most valuable feed on a beef farm, so making the most of it really pays off. Walk your farm weekly to assess grass availability.

The aim during the grazing season is to grow grass in each paddock in three weeks and graze it within three days. Where this isn’t an option just yet, start by moving stock twice a week and build from there – use strip wires to divide up bigger fields on farm. This approach of moving cattle regularly ensures they always have access to fresh, leafy grass, which helps drive better liveweight gain and overall performance.

Aim to graze paddocks when grass covers are between 1,300kg DM/ha and 1,500kg DM/ha – approximately the height of three fistfuls of grass. At this stage, grass is at its best for energy and protein content.

To achieve a three-day grazing per group with a cover of 1300-1500 kg DM/ha pre grazing, the tables below give an indication as to the size of paddock depending on your system:

Table 1: Paddock sizes required for 500kg cattle

Table 2: Paddock sizes required for 300kg animals

Table 3: Paddock sizes required for suckler cows and calves

The moto is simple for managing grass in 2026:

• 3 weeks growing
• 3 fist full high
• 3 days grazing

Remember, small changes in grazing management can deliver high daily growth rates, improved animal health and farm profitability over time.