How much good pasture is needed for the minimum livestock intensity in Austin County?

Austin CAD says a typical livestock operation is at least 5 animal units for most of the calendar year. At 1 animal unit per 4 acres of good pasture, 5 × 4 = 20 acres are needed to support that minimum.

How much average pasture is needed for five animal units in Austin County?

The average-pasture stocking rate is 1 animal unit per 6 acres. Five animal units therefore require 5 × 6 = 30 acres, which meets the CAD's five-animal-unit livestock threshold.

How many hives are required on 16 acres in Austin County?

A 16-acre tract falls in Austin CAD's 15–16-acre beekeeping band, which requires 10 hives. The published table applies to tracts from 5 through 20 acres.

What must a new Austin County tract do to qualify for wildlife management?

The tract must already be actively qualified under 1-D or 1-D-1, have at least 16.6 acres, complete at least 3 wildlife practices, submit a Texas Parks and Wildlife wildlife-management plan, and file an annual report thereafter.

Austin County, TX — Ag Exemption Requirements (2026)

Last verified 2026-07-12 · Source: Austin County Appraisal District official guidelines

Austin County sits west of Houston along the Brazos River and includes the farming and ranching country around Bellville, Sealy, and San Felipe. Cattle grazing, hay production, cropland, orchards, and beekeeping are all addressed in Austin CAD's guidelines, which pair pasture stocking rates with a five-animal-unit livestock threshold that is especially useful for smaller rural tracts.

Min. Acreage

5 ac

History Requirement

The land must have been devoted to a qualifying agricultural use for at least five (5) of the past seven (7) years.

Application Window

January 1 – April 30

CAD Phone

979-865-9124

Grazing Intensity Standards

Pasture Type	Acres per Animal Unit	Confidence
Good Pasture	4 acres / AU	✓ Verified
Average Pasture	6 acres / AU	✓ Verified
Poor Pasture	10 acres / AU	✓ Verified

Beekeeping Intensity Standards

Acreage Range	Base Hives	Extra Hives/Acre (above base)	Confidence
5–20 acres	6	0	✓ 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	1	County-published
cow calf	1	County-published
500 pound calves	0.5	County-published
bull	2	County-published
sheep	0.1666666667	County-published
goat	0.1666666667	County-published
horse	1.5	County-published
miniature horse	0.5	County-published
miniature donkey	0.5	County-published

Wildlife Management Option

Austin County allows wildlife management as a qualifying use. Landowners must implement at least 3 of the seven recognized wildlife management practices defined by Texas Parks and Wildlife. An annual wildlife management plan report is required.

The property must be actively qualified under 1-D or 1-D-1 before converting to Wildlife Management. Wildlife management use requires 16.6 acres for a new tract, and a Wildlife Management Plan, promulgated by the Texas Department of Parks and Wildlife, must accompany each application; a Wildlife Management Annual Report must be filed each year thereafter.

Required Documents

Form 50-129, Application for 1-d-1 (Open-Space) Agricultural Use Appraisal
Receipts, expenditures, sales receipts or statements declaring products produced and gross income earned to land or Internal Revenue Service Schedule F Tax Form, when required by the owner

Discretionary Caveats

⚠ Not a fixed rule — confirm with the CAD.

"It should be noted that these guidelines are to be used as a general guide for qualifying agricultural land. Exceptions to the general rule will be handled on a case-by-case basis."

⚠ Not a fixed rule — confirm with the CAD.

"A typical livestock operation to the degree of intensity generally accepted in this area, such as grazing cattle or livestock, is at least five (5) animal units for a majority of the calendar year. Rotational grazing MUST be a minimum of 90-120 days."

⚠ Not a fixed rule — confirm with the CAD.

"The following typical acreages for the different land categories listed below are intended to be used as general guidelines based upon typical stocking rates."

Frequently Asked Questions — Austin County

: Austin CAD says a typical livestock operation is at least 5 animal units for most of the calendar year. At 1 animal unit per 4 acres of good pasture, 5 × 4 = 20 acres are needed to support that minimum.
: The average-pasture stocking rate is 1 animal unit per 6 acres. Five animal units therefore require 5 × 6 = 30 acres, which meets the CAD's five-animal-unit livestock threshold.
: A 16-acre tract falls in Austin CAD's 15–16-acre beekeeping band, which requires 10 hives. The published table applies to tracts from 5 through 20 acres.
: The tract must already be actively qualified under 1-D or 1-D-1, have at least 16.6 acres, complete at least 3 wildlife practices, submit a Texas Parks and Wildlife wildlife-management plan, and file an annual report thereafter.

Austin County Appraisal District

Phone: 979-865-9124
Email: austincad@gmail.com
Address: 906 E. Amelia St., Bellville, TX 77418-2843
Website: https://austincad.org

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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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