September, 1997

Dry Sheep Equivalents for comparing

different classes of livestock

AG0590
ISSN 1329-8062

Colin McLaren, Attwood

The purpose of this Agriculture Note is to describe a Dry
Sheep Equivalent system and to indicate its limitations so
that it may be used with more effect and discretion.

Table 1 Dry sheep equivalents (DSE) for different

classes of sheep and beef cattle based on daily energy
requirements
Class of Stock

What are Dry Sheep Equivalents?

The Dry Sheep Equivalent (DSE) is a standard unit
frequently used to compare the feed requirements of
different classes of stock or to assess the carrying capacity
and potential productivity of a given farm or area of
grazing land. Relative profitability of different livestock
enterprises may also be expressed as $/DSE. Sometimes
the terms "Stock Equivalent" or "Livestock Equivalent"
may be used in the same context as DSE.
The DSE and other stock equivalent systems are only
approximations. The feed requirements of livestock vary
with their liveweight, level of production, physiological
state, land topography and climatic conditions. DSEs are
based on the energy requirements of animals and do not
account for differences in the protein or mineral
requirements of different animals. The DSE is an estimate
of average feed requirements, ignoring variations between
animals of the same class due to genetic differences or
management practices.
While the DSE is widely accepted in Australia, there is
some variation in the weight of a dry sheep used in
defining a DSE. The standard DSE unit used in this
Agriculture Note is the amount of feed required by a two
year old, 45 kg Merino sheep (wether or non-lactating,
non-pregnant ewe) to maintain its weight.

Daily feed requirements

Sheep (Merino)
Weaned lambs
gaining 100 g/day
gaining 200 g/day
Mature sheep
Dry ewes, wethers (store)

State of Victoria, Department of Primary Industries

1.4

1.8

40 kg
0.9

50 kg
1.1

1.2

1.4

1.5

1.7

Pregnant ewes last 6 weeks

bearing singles

1.4

1.6

Pregnant ewes last 6 weeks

bearing twins

1.8

2.0

Ewes with single lamb at foot

2.4

3.1

Ewes with twin lambs at foot

2.8

3.3

Beef cattle (British breed)

Weaned calves
gaining 0.25 kg/day

200 kg
5.5

250 kg
6.5

gaining 0.75 kg/day

8.0

9.0

gaining 0.25 kg/day

300 kg
7

350 kg
8

gaining 0.75 kg/day

10

11

400 kg
7

500 kg
8

Yearling

Mature cattle
Dry cows, steers (store)
gaining 0.25 kg/day

Tables 1 and 2 provide a comparison of the energy

requirements of different animals on a daily basis relative
to that of a dry sheep as defined above.1

metabolisable energy requirement for maintenance (MEm), Equation

1.22 on page 24 of Feeding standards for Australian livestock.

25 kg
1.2

gaining 50 g/day

Bullocks (store)

Estimates are based on the generalised equation used to predict

15 kg
0.9

gaining 100 g/day

The amount of feed an animal requires each day can be

determined for most circumstances by estimating the
amount of energy it requires.

DSE at specified
liveweights

12

14

Pregnant Cows last 3 months

11

Cows with 0-3 month calf

14

18

Cows with 4-6 month calf

18

22

Cows with 7-10 month calf

22

25

gaining 0.75 kg/day

Ruminants. The Standard Reference Weight (SRW) is assumed to be

45 kg. One DSE is equivalent to 7.60 MJ/day.

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Dry Sheep Equivalents for comparing different classes of livestock

Table 2 Dry sheep equivalents (DSE) for different
classes of dairy cattle based on daily energy
requirements
Class of Stock

DSE at specified
liveweights

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months of the breeding year, a pregnant ewe has an

increasing feed demand as the lamb foetus develops.
Following lambing the lactating ewe has a relatively high
feed demand while it is suckling its lamb. After weaning,
the ewe could spend the rest of the year in store condition.
In a breeding flock some ewes fail to conceive and others
may lose their lambs before marking. Such ewes are
termed "dry" and, if grazed with the lactating ewes, will
receive feed in excess of their requirements.

Dairy cattle
Weaned calves
gaining 500 g/day

200 kg
7.0

250 kg
8.0

Heifer
Pregnant, last 3 months

350 kg
9.0

450 kg
10.5

Mature cows

Jersey
400 kg
7

Holstein
550 kg
9

Dry pregnant last 3 months

12

Lactating, maintaining weight

producing 40% of peak milk1

13

16

Lactating, maintaining weight

producing 60% of peak milk1

16

20

Lamb marking percentages for flocks vary with breed, ewe

liveweight at mating, and date of joining. On average, for
late autumn lambing Merinos, 75 lambs are marked for
each 100 ewes mated (75%). Correspondingvalues for
Corriedales and crossbreds (Border Leicester x Merino)
are 85% and 95% respectively. Much higher marking
percentages could be expected for autumn-mated
crossbreds.

Lactating, maintaining weight

producing 80% of peak milk1

19

24

Table 3 Estimation of the annual dry sheep

equivalents (DSE) of Merino and crossbred flocks.

Lactating, maintaining weight

at peak milk production1

22

28

Jersey
560 kg
10

Holstein
770 kg
14

Dry cows maintaining weight

Bulls
maintaining weight

Flock status

Time
mths

Average DSEs

Total
DSEs1

Merinos (40 kg)

Notice how the DSEs in tables 1 and 2 vary with the size
of the animals, whether or not they are pregnant or
lactating, and the rate at which they gain weight.
DSE values for fibre goats (angora and cashmere) may be
assumed to be similar to those of sheep of equivalent
liveweight and physiological state. The feed requirements
of lactating dairy goats are likely to be greater than those
of lactating merino sheep due to their greater milk
production.
These comparative figures are of use when contemplating
stock transfers on a farm. For example, a paddock
supporting 200 Merino wethers (1.0 DSE each) would be
expected to support only about 140 weaned lambs gaining
100 g/day, or less than 85 ewes suckling single lambs.
They may also account for the incidence of pregnancy
toxaemia in ewes and cows in late pregnancy, if their extra
feed requirements have not been adequately catered for.
The other major use of these figures is in determining the
amount of feed required by a flock or herd over the whole
year, or at critical times of the year. Such calculations
allow comparisons to be made of the requirements of
alternative livestock enterprises.

Dry ewes

0.9

0.23

Pregnant first 3
months

0.9-1.0 (80% pregnant)

0.9 (20% dry)

0.24

Pregnant last 2
months

1.4 (80% pregnant)

1.0 (20 % dry)

0.22

Lactating

2.4 (75% lactating)

1.0 (25% dry)

0.67

Weaned lambs2

12

1.0 (75% lambs marked

5% deaths)

0.70

Total per ewe

(including lambs)

2.06

Crossbreds (60kg)
Dry ewes

1.2

0.30

Pregnant first 3
months

1.3 (94% pregnant)

1.2 (6% dry)

0.33

Pregnant last 2
months

1.7 (92% pregnant)

1.3 (8 % dry)

0.29

Lactating

3.6 (88% lactating)

1.2 (12% dry)

1.15

Weaned lambs3

1.7 (37% lambs marked

3% deaths)

0.06

Total per ewe

(including lambs)

2.13

Using these averages, DSEs are calculated in Table 3 for

autumn lambing Merino and crossbred flocks. Note the
higher requirements for the crossbred sheep due to their
larger size and better milk production.

Annual feed requirements

Sheep
During the year a breeding ewe goes through stages when
it requires different amounts of feed. In the first five

Peak milk yield is assumed to be 25 litres/day for Holstein and

18 litres/day for Jersey cows.

State of Victoria, Department of Primary Industries

Total DSEs =

Months Average DSEs %

12
100

All lambs kept to 18 months, then only ewe replacements kept.

60% of lambs sold at weaning (4 months), the remaining 37%

turned off 1 month after weaning. All ewe replacements bought
in.

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Dry Sheep Equivalents for comparing different classes of livestock

Beef Cattle
The composition of beef herds may vary widely,
depending on management practices such as time of
joining, age at weaning, cow replacement policy and when
slaughter stock are sold. In any given month a beef herd
may consist of varying proportions of dry pregnant cows,
dry empty cows, lactating empty cows with suckling calves
at foot, lactating pregnant cows with calves at foot,
replacement heifers, weaned calves, and yearling and older
steers. An approximation for the annual feed requirements
is that each beast would consume feed equivalent to around
10 to 12 DSE, depending on the mature weight and milk
production potential of the cows.
Dairy Cattle
A dairy cow producing on average 15 litres of milk per day
over a lactation of 9 to 10 months will have an average
feed consumption of about 21 DSE over the whole year. A
cow producing 20 litres per day will consume feed
equivalent to about 24 DSE in a year. In addition to the
milking herd there may also be about half as many
replacement heifers with 45% of these being one to two
years old, and the remainder below one year. Given DSE
values of around 9 and 4 DSE respectively for these
replacements, the overall herd requirements would be
equivalent to about 14 to 17 DSE.
Using the figures
A few words of caution. The figures given above for cattle
and shown in table 3 for sheep are estimates of the annual
requirements of stock on an "average" farm. The
appropriate figures for an individual farm will depend very
much on aspects of the farm environment and the
management strategies employed.
The figures and calculations shown are meant only as a
guide for determining individual farm values. Thus, in
calculating the requirements of a sheep flock with a higher
lambing percentage than the average, allowance would
need to be made for the higher costs of pregnancy and
lactation. Similarly, cattle herds of larger than average
mature size or greater milk production will have greater
feed requirements than those suggested above.
Buying and selling strategies will also influence the
calculated DSE values. The Merino flock in table 2 is
assumed to be self-replacing, with all lambs kept until 18
months of age. By contrast, the replacement ewes in the
crossbred flock are all assumed to be bought in, and all
lambs are sold as finished prime lamb at or soon after
weaning. If the Merino lambs were sold soon after
weaning and ewe replacements were bought in, then the
annual requirements of the Merino flock would fall from
2.1 to 1.6 DSE per breeding ewe.
Management strategies must be taken into account when
deciding on the appropriate figures to use in comparing
differing classes of stock or livestock enterprises. For
example, the relative demands of wethers and breeding
ewes are very dependent on both the time of lambing and
the level of stocking. If periods of high energy demand by

State of Victoria, Department of Primary Industries

AG0590

the lactating ewes could be relied on to coincide with

periods of feed surplus, as in a spring-lambing flock in a
high rainfall or irrigated area, then the substitution ratio of
ewes for wethers might approach 1:1. However, if
lactation coincides with periods of feed shortage, as can
occur in autumn-lambing systems in most winter rainfall
environments or areas with unreliable autumn and spring
rainfall, then the ratio may be 1 ewe to 1.7 or more
wethers.
Other considerations with spring-lambing systems include
the greater number of twin lambs, particularly with
crossbreds or highly prolific breeds, and the greater feed
consumption and faster growth rates of lambs compared
with autumn lambing. Furthermore, in the event of an
early end to the growing season, lambs associated with the
ewe enterprise can be very demanding on available pasture
or supplementary feed.
The production and running costs of ewes and wethers
vary considerably, so that economic factors affect the
relative optimal stocking rates of ewes and wethers. Ewes,
even at low stocking rates, can require a considerable
amount of supplementary feed compared with wethers at
much higher stocking rates.

Carrying Capacity
The carrying capacity of a farm is commonly determined
by expressing the number of stock carried during a period
of feed shortage in terms of their DSEs.
For example, if we consider a 500 hectare property
carrying just over 2000 Merino sheep and 100 breeding
beef cows during a period of winter feed shortage. Half
Table 4 Calculation of carrying capacity for a mixed
sheep and beef farm.

Number

Stock

DSE
rating

1000

Lactating ewes

2400

1000

Dry sheep

Rams

1.0

1000

1.2

30

100

Lactating cows

17.0

1700

30

Yearling heifers

8.0

240

20

Yearling steers

8.5

170

Dry cows

8.0

40

Bulls

10.0

30

5610

25

Total

2.4

Total
DSEs

the sheep flock are ewes in their first 2 months of lactation,

with the remainder of the flock being wethers, replacement
stock and rams.
The beef herd is a self-replacing, autumn calving herd
producing both weaner vealers and yearling steers sold at
20 months of age. The 100 cows are in their first 3 months
of lactation and there are 50 yearlings, comprising both
heifers and steers. We can roughly estimate the carrying
capacity per hectare as follows in table 4.

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Dry Sheep Equivalents for comparing different classes of livestock

Thus our 500 hectare property is stocked at 5610 DSEs or
just over 11 DSEs per hectare.

Other grazing animals

There is little information in Australia on the relative
grazing pressures of other animal species, such as goats,
deer, alpacas and horses, compared with sheep and cattle.
In considering other species one needs to take the feeding
strategies of these animals and the available vegetation into
account. Since goats, deer and alpacas are browsing
animals, they have an obvious advantage if edible shrubs
provide a substantial proportion of the available
vegetation. Where pasture is the sole source of feed, some
guide as to the carrying capacity of the pastures could be
achieved by stocking at a similar total liveweight of
animals per hectare as one would for sheep and cattle.
Specific demands, particularly those associated with
pregnancy and lactation, should be carefully catered for.

Concluding remarks
It must again be emphasised that livestock equivalent
systems including the DSE are only approximate estimates
of the feed requirements of grazing animals.
Feed requirements are effected by environmental
conditions, such as temperature, rainfall and windspeed,
whether the land is flat, undulating or hilly, the quantity
and quality of pasture and other feed available, and the
proximity of drinking water.
Clearly also the level of production, physiological state,
age, gender and liveweight of animals have a major
influence on the feed requirements of grazing animals.

Because published tables of DSEs may be based on

different definitions of a dry sheep and so may differ from
one another, it is important to quote the source of the DSEs
that you are using, and to only use estimates from one
source.
More precise estimates of daily feed requirements may be
obtained using GrazFeed, a computer program for IBM
compatible personal computers developed by CSIRO and
available from Horizon Technology Pty. Ltd.1
GrazFeed provides a simple way of applying current
feeding standards to grazing cattle or sheep based on the
recommendations in "Feeding Standards for Australian
Livestock: Ruminants", published in 1990 by CSIRO.

Further Reading
Freer, M. (1981) The Control of Food Intake by Grazing
Animals. Chapter 6 in Grazing Animals edited by F.H.W.
Morley. Amsterdam: Elsevier.
Purser, D.B. (1981) Nutritional Value of Mediterranean
Pastures. Chapter 9 in Grazing Animals edited by F.H.W.
Morley. Amsterdam: Elsevier.
Standing Committee on Agriculture: Ruminants
Subcommittee. (1990) Feeding Standards for Australian
Livestock. Ruminants. Melbourne: CSIRO.
This publication may be of assistance to you but the State of Victoria
and its officers do not guarantee that the publication is without flaw
of any kind or is wholly appropriate for your particular purposes
and therefore disclaims all liability for any error, loss or other
consequence which may arise from you relying on any information
in this publication.

State of Victoria, Department of Primary Industries

AG0590

Horizon Technology Pty. Ltd.

PO Box 598, Roseville NSW 2069
Tel. (02) 9805 1941 Fax (02) 9887 4428

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