Zavala County, TX — Ag Exemption Requirements (2026)
Zavala County lies in the Winter Garden region southwest of San Antonio, around Crystal City, where irrigated row crops, grazing, hay, orchards, and vineyards are common agricultural uses. Zavala CAD's policy is especially useful because it pairs small-tract crop and apiary thresholds with a stated livestock-equivalency table and a county-specific wildlife-management acreage test.
Grazing Intensity Standards
| Pasture Type | Acres per Animal Unit | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| native pasture | 25 acres / AU | ✓ Verified |
| wheat, oats, rye, etc. (if grazed) | 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 calf | 1 | County-published |
| mature bull | 1.25 | County-published |
| weaned calf to one year | 0.6 | County-published |
| steer one year old | 0.7 | County-published |
| steer two year old | 0.9 | County-published |
| horse | 1.25 | County-published |
| miniature horse | 0.5 | County-published |
| mule | 1.25 | County-published |
| donkey | 0.75 | County-published |
| ewe | 0.2 | County-published |
| ram | 0.25 | County-published |
| lamb | 0.125 | County-published |
| nanny goat | 0.1666666667 | County-published |
| buck | 0.2 | County-published |
| kid goat | 0.1 | County-published |
| mature mutton | 0.1666666667 | County-published |
| llama | 0.3333333333 | County-published |
| white tailed deer | 0.1428571429 | County-published |
| axis aoudad fallow mouflon | 0.2 | County-published |
| blackbuck antelope | 0.1111111111 | County-published |
| sika deer | 0.1428571429 | County-published |
| red deer elk | 0.4 | County-published |
| eland | 1 | County-published |
| bison | 1.1 | County-published |
| ostrich | 0.5 | County-published |
Wildlife Management Option
Zavala 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.
Land must currently be under agricultural-use valuation before wildlife management begins. Zavala CAD adopted the 98% wildlife-use requirement, making 50 acres the smallest qualifying tract; a PWD 885-W7000 wildlife management plan must accompany the 1-d-1 application, and the owner must use at least three of seven listed practices. The policy says an appraisal district may require an annual implementation report.
Required Documents
- Form 50-129, Application for 1-d-1 (Open-Space) Agricultural Use Appraisal
- Sworn and notarized statements from lessors of the subject property, owners of surrounding properties, or other persons knowledgeable of the agricultural use
- Invoices for feed, veterinarian services, seed, fertilizer, etc.
- Receipts for sale of livestock, hay or farm products
- Income tax return showing farm income — Schedule F
- Current active lease
- PWD 885-W7000 wildlife management plan, if applying for wildlife management
Discretionary Caveats
"Properties with a result of less than two (2) animal units will be required to maintain a minimum of 2 animal unit."
"The degree of intensity standards are guidelines to serve as a tool to assist the Appraisal District in determining general qualifications for qualifying land for agricultural valuation. Each application should be considered on its own merit, as there may be other circumstances in an operation which would allow a tract of land to qualify for an open space use appraisal."
"You may be contacted and asked to provide further information and/or documentation to support your application."
Frequently Asked Questions — Zavala County
- Zavala CAD's Table 1 uses 25 acres per animal unit, so 50 acres ÷ 25 acres per animal unit = 2 animal units. That also meets the policy's minimum of 2 animal units when the acreage calculation produces less than two.
- Zavala CAD starts with 6 colonies on the first 5 acres and adds 1 hive for each additional 2.5 acres. The policy's 14.6-acre example requires 9 hives: 6 base hives + 3 for the next 7.5 acres, with the remaining 2.1 acres not adding a hive.
- The policy requires 1 animal unit per 1.5 acres when these small grains are grazed. Fifteen acres ÷ 1.5 acres per animal unit = 10 animal units.
- The tract must already have agricultural-use valuation and, under Zavala CAD's adopted 98% test, be at least 50 acres. The owner must submit a PWD 885-W7000 wildlife management plan and carry out at least 3 of the 7 listed practices.
Zavala County Appraisal District
- Phone
- 830-374-3475
- zavalacad@zavalacad.com
- Address
- 323 W. Zavala St. Crystal City, TX 78839-3240
- Website
- https://zavalacad.com
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