How much improved pasture is needed for Atascosa County's three-animal-unit minimum?

Atascosa CAD lists improved pasture at 10 acres per animal unit and requires at least 3 animal units. The stocking-rate calculation is 3 × 10 = 30 acres of improved pasture.

How many animal units can 60 acres of native pasture support in Atascosa County?

Native pasture is listed at 20 acres per animal unit, so 60 ÷ 20 = 3 animal units. That meets the district's stated three-animal-unit minimum.

How many bee hives are required on 12.5 acres in Atascosa County?

The CAD's beekeeping table lists 9 hives for 12.5 acres. The table begins at 6 hives on 5 acres and adds one hive for each additional 2.5 acres.

What is required to use wildlife management in Atascosa County?

The tract must already have an agricultural exemption and be managed for indigenous wildlife. The owner must file a wildlife management plan and submit an annual report; a wildlife-management cooperative must contain at least 20 acres.

Atascosa County, TX — Ag Exemption Requirements (2026)

Last verified 2026-07-12 · Source: Atascosa Central Appraisal District official guidelines

Atascosa County lies south of San Antonio in the South Texas Plains, where improved and native pasture, brush country, grain production, orchards, and livestock are all recognized agricultural land uses. Atascosa Central Appraisal District's standards are particularly useful because they give separate forage-based stocking rates for improved, native, and brush land, along with a three-animal-unit minimum for livestock operations.

Min. Acreage

0 ac

History Requirement

Agricultural production must be shown for five (5) of the preceding seven (7) years.

Application Window

January 1 – April 30

CAD Phone

830-569-8326

Grazing Intensity Standards

Pasture Type	Acres per Animal Unit	Confidence
Improved Pasture Land	10 acres / AU	✓ Verified
Native Pasture Land	20 acres / AU	✓ Verified
Brush Land	30 acres / AU	✓ Verified
Wheat planted for forage	1.5 acres / AU	✓ Verified

Beekeeping Intensity Standards

Acreage Range	Base Hives	Extra Hives/Acre (above base)	Confidence
5–20 acres	6	0.4	✓ Verified

Animal Unit Equivalencies

An animal unit (AU) is a standardized measure used to compare livestock of different sizes. One AU = one 1,000-lb cow. Your total stocking rate is calculated in AUs, then multiplied by the acres-per-AU standard for your pasture type. These values are published by the county.

Animal	Animal Units	Source
cow or cow with calf	1	County-published
mature bull	1.25	County-published
weaned calf to 1 year stockers	0.6	County-published
steer 1 year	0.7	County-published
steer 2 year	0.9	County-published
mature horse	1.25	County-published
ewe with or without lambs	0.2	County-published
ram	0.2	County-published
lamb to 1 year	0.125	County-published
nanny with kids	0.1666666667	County-published
billy	0.1666666667	County-published
weaned or yearling kid	0.1	County-published

Wildlife Management Option

Atascosa County allows wildlife management as a qualifying use. Landowners must implement at least 0 of the seven recognized wildlife management practices defined by Texas Parks and Wildlife. An annual wildlife management plan report is required.

The land must already have an agricultural exemption and the owner must use the land to propagate a sustaining breeding, migrating or wintering population of indigenous wild animals. A wildlife management plan must be filed with the district to obtain a wildlife management special use evaluation, and an annual report is required on all parcels with that evaluation. The 2026 schedule states that the Wildlife Management Co-Op minimum acreage is 20 acres.

Required Documents

Form 50-129, Application for 1-d-1 (Open-Space) Agricultural Use Appraisal
Wildlife management plan, if applying for wildlife management
Wildlife management annual report, if approved for wildlife management

Discretionary Caveats

⚠ Not a fixed rule — confirm with the CAD.

"The minimum number of animal units required to qualify a property is three (3)."

⚠ Not a fixed rule — confirm with the CAD.

"Some lease terms are exceptions to the norm and each application will be reviewed on an individual basis."

⚠ Not a fixed rule — confirm with the CAD.

"Minimum acreage not stated in published document — confirm with CAD."

Frequently Asked Questions — Atascosa County

: Atascosa CAD lists improved pasture at 10 acres per animal unit and requires at least 3 animal units. The stocking-rate calculation is 3 × 10 = 30 acres of improved pasture.
: Native pasture is listed at 20 acres per animal unit, so 60 ÷ 20 = 3 animal units. That meets the district's stated three-animal-unit minimum.
: The CAD's beekeeping table lists 9 hives for 12.5 acres. The table begins at 6 hives on 5 acres and adds one hive for each additional 2.5 acres.
: The tract must already have an agricultural exemption and be managed for indigenous wildlife. The owner must file a wildlife management plan and submit an annual report; a wildlife-management cooperative must contain at least 20 acres.

Atascosa Central Appraisal District

Phone: 830-569-8326
Email: ACAD@atascosacad.com
Address: P.O. Box 600, Pleasanton, TX 78064
Website: https://atascosacad.com

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LandTally is an informational and record-keeping tool. It does not provide tax, legal, or appraisal advice, and is not affiliated with any county appraisal district. Requirements are set by your county and may change — always confirm details with your county appraisal district before acting.

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