How much rangeland does Tom Green CAD use for its livestock guideline?

Tom Green CAD’s guideline is 1 animal unit per 40 acres. On 80 acres, the calculation is 80 ÷ 40 = 2 animal units; the district also states that grazing stock must meet a minimum of 1 animal unit.

How many hives are needed on 15 acres in Tom Green County?

The published beekeeping schedule requires 3 hives on 15 acres. The schedule begins with 2 hives for the first 5 acres, remains at 2 hives at 10 acres, and rises to 4 hives at 20 acres.

How many sheep or goats make one animal unit in Tom Green County?

Tom Green CAD assigns sheep and goats 0.25 animal units each. Four animals × 0.25 AU each = 1 animal unit, which meets the district’s stated minimum for grazing stock.

Tom Green County, TX — Ag Exemption Requirements (2026)

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

Tom Green County centers on San Angelo in the Concho Valley, spanning parts of the Rolling Plains and Edwards Plateau where rangeland livestock, dryland crops, and irrigated crops are established land uses. Tom Green CAD gives ranchers a concrete 40-acre animal-unit guideline and publishes both a local animal-equivalency table and small-tract beekeeping thresholds, making its standards especially useful for planning an agricultural operation.

Min. Acreage

0 ac

History Requirement

The land must have been used principally for an agricultural use for five of the seven years preceding the year in which an application is filed.

Application Window

January 1 – April 30

CAD Phone

325-658-5575

Grazing Intensity Standards

Pasture Type	Acres per Animal Unit	Confidence
rangeland	40 acres / AU	✓ Verified

Beekeeping Intensity Standards

Acreage Range	Base Hives	Extra Hives/Acre (above base)	Confidence
5–20 acres	2	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
dairy cow bull	2	County-published
beefalo buffalo	1	County-published
equine	0.74	County-published
cattle over 500 lbs	0.75	County-published
cattle under 500 lbs	0.5	County-published
sheep goats	0.25	County-published
alpaca	0.82	County-published
llama	0.36	County-published
emu	0.51	County-published
ostrich	0.55	County-published
zebra	0.6	County-published
axis	0.2	County-published
aoudad or mouflon sheep	0.2	County-published
sika deer	0.15	County-published
eland	1	County-published
black buck antelope	0.1	County-published
nilgai	0.6	County-published
red dear	0.4	County-published
elk	0.6	County-published
bison	1	County-published
antelope	0.2	County-published

Wildlife Management Option

Tom Green 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.

Land must have been qualified and appraised as open-space agriculture land or as timber land in the year prior to conversion to wildlife management use. A Wildlife Management Plan on a Texas Parks and Wildlife Department form is required for each tract. Individual owners need at least 25 acres; an individual part of a Wildlife Management Property Association needs at least 16.7 acres. Annual reports are required upon request and must list at least three management practices implemented in the prior year.