How much native pasture is needed for San Saba County's minimum livestock operation?

San Saba CAD requires a commercial livestock operation to have 4 animal units. At 1 animal unit per 20 acres of native pasture, 4 × 20 = 80 acres are needed.

How many active hives are required on 15 acres in San Saba County?

San Saba CAD's beekeeping schedule lists 10 active hives for 15 acres. The same schedule lists 6 hives at 5 acres and 12 hives at 20 acres.

Can a 10-acre wheat, oats, or hay-grazer operation meet San Saba CAD's published acreage standard?

Yes. The published standard for wheat, oats, hay grazer, and similar production is a minimum of 10 acres. If the land is grazed instead of harvested, it must support 1 animal unit per 1.5 acres.

What is required to use wildlife management on a 20-acre San Saba County tract?

Twenty acres meets the CAD's stated wildlife minimum, but the tract must already be under agricultural-use evaluation and actively used when wildlife management begins. The owner must carry out at least 3 of 7 practices, submit PWD 885 every 5 years, and submit PWD 888 annually.

San Saba County, TX — Ag Exemption Requirements (2026)

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

San Saba County sits on the eastern Edwards Plateau along the Colorado River, northwest of Austin, where cattle and small-ruminant ranching, hay and grain production, orchards and pecans are important agricultural uses. San Saba CAD's guidelines are useful for landowners because they provide distinct native- and improved-pasture stocking rates, a four-animal-unit commercial-livestock threshold, and a detailed apiary schedule for smaller tracts.

Min. Acreage

0 ac

History Requirement

Qualified open-space land means land that is currently devoted principally to agricultural use to the degree of intensity generally accepted in the area and that has been devoted principally to agricultural use or production of timber or forest products for five years of the preceding seven years.

Application Window

January 1 – April 30

CAD Phone

325-372-5031

Grazing Intensity Standards

Pasture Type	Acres per Animal Unit	Confidence
Native Pasture	20 acres / AU	✓ Verified
Improved Pasture	10 acres / AU	✓ Verified
Wheat, Oats, Hay Grazer, etc. (grazed)	1.5 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
mature cow and calf	1	County-published
mature bull	1.35	County-published
mature horse donkey mule	1.25	County-published
miniature horse donkey mule	0.5	County-published
5 ewes	1	County-published
4 rams or buck sheep	1	County-published
8 lambs weaned to 1 year old	1	County-published
6 nanny goats	1	County-published
5 billy goats	1	County-published
10 kid goats weaned to 1 year old	1	County-published
6 mature mutton goats	1	County-published

Wildlife Management Option

San Saba 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 currently be under agricultural use evaluation and the owner must be actively using it when wildlife management begins. At least three of seven listed practices are required; a state wildlife management plan on form PWD 885 must be submitted every five years, form PWD 888 must be submitted annually, and a minimum of twenty acres is necessary to qualify.