How many adult cattle animal units can 25 acres of Hunt County pasture support?

Hunt CAD’s typical stocking rate is 5 acres per animal unit. Twenty-five acres ÷ 5 acres per animal unit = 5 animal units; an adult cow or bull is listed as 1 animal unit.

How many sheep or goats meet Hunt CAD’s minimum for five acres of pasture?

Five acres support 1 animal unit under Hunt CAD’s pasture standard. Sheep or goats are listed at 0.25 animal unit each, so 1 ÷ 0.25 = 4 sheep or goats; the table also lists a minimum of 4 head per 5 acres.

How many hives does Hunt CAD require on a 20-acre apiary tract?

For 13 to 20 acres, Hunt CAD states a minimum of one-half hive per acre. At 20 acres, 20 × 0.5 = 10 hives.

Can a 12.5-acre Hunt County tract move into wildlife management?

Yes, 12.5 acres meets the minimum shown in Hunt CAD’s wildlife flowchart, provided the tract was qualified and appraised as agricultural land in the preceding year. The owner must file a detailed plan, perform at least 3 approved practices, and submit an annual report.

Hunt County, TX — Ag Exemption Requirements (2026)

Last verified 2026-07-13 · Source: Hunt County Appraisal District official guidelines

Hunt County lies in Northeast Texas east of Dallas, centered on Greenville and extending across Blackland Prairie and pasture country toward Lake Tawakoni. Cattle, horses, small livestock, hay, crops, orchards, and apiaries are all addressed in Hunt CAD’s manual; its uniform five-acre stocking rate and species-specific animal-unit table give landowners a direct way to test a grazing operation’s intensity.

Min. Acreage

3 ac

History Requirement

The land must have been devoted to a qualifying agricultural use for five (5) of the preceding seven (7) years. If the property is located within the corporate limits of a city or town, it must be the five (5) preceding consecutive years.

Application Window

January 1 – April 30

CAD Phone

903-454-3510

Grazing Intensity Standards

Pasture Type	Acres per Animal Unit	Confidence
PASTURE	5 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
cattle adult cows or bulls	1	County-published
yearlings dairy cattle beef cattle buffalo or beefalo 500 lbs or more	0.5	County-published
equine	1	County-published
sheep or goats	0.25	County-published
alpaca	0.23	County-published
llama	0.28	County-published
emu	0.09	County-published
swine	0.41	County-published

Wildlife Management Option

Hunt 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 land must have been qualified and appraised as agricultural land during the year before the year the owner changes to wildlife management. The owner must use three or more of seven listed activities, file a written detailed Wildlife Management Plan with the Application for 1-d-1 (Open Space) Agricultural Appraisal, and file a Wildlife Management Annual Report yearly. Hunt CAD’s flowchart states a 12.5-acre minimum acreage requirement.

Required Documents

Form 50-129, Application for 1-d-1 (Open-Space) Agricultural Use Appraisal
Written detailed 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.

"This is a guideline only and any application for agriculture valuation below 3 acres will be considered on a case by case basis."

⚠ Not a fixed rule — confirm with the CAD.

"One such consideration would be an application for a tract of land used with other qualified agricultural property being owned by the same person(s) or family member."

⚠ Not a fixed rule — confirm with the CAD.

"Appraiser will do field inspection to verify usage and assure the land is being used to its degree of intensity."

Frequently Asked Questions — Hunt County

: Hunt CAD’s typical stocking rate is 5 acres per animal unit. Twenty-five acres ÷ 5 acres per animal unit = 5 animal units; an adult cow or bull is listed as 1 animal unit.
: Five acres support 1 animal unit under Hunt CAD’s pasture standard. Sheep or goats are listed at 0.25 animal unit each, so 1 ÷ 0.25 = 4 sheep or goats; the table also lists a minimum of 4 head per 5 acres.
: For 13 to 20 acres, Hunt CAD states a minimum of one-half hive per acre. At 20 acres, 20 × 0.5 = 10 hives.
: Yes, 12.5 acres meets the minimum shown in Hunt CAD’s wildlife flowchart, provided the tract was qualified and appraised as agricultural land in the preceding year. The owner must file a detailed plan, perform at least 3 approved practices, and submit an annual report.

Hunt County Appraisal District

Phone: 903-454-3510
Email: huntcad@hunt-cad.org
Address: P.O. Box 1339 Greenville, TX 75403-1339
Website: https://www.hunt-cad.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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