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Cattle and sheep production in Uruguay is mainly based on natural grasslands. Research has shown that most of the country is overgrazed, so it is important to work with higher grass allowances. A simple, robust tool has been developed that livestock producers can use to budget for feed, called the Meal Plate Index. It is based on the fact that each category of cattle requires a certain amount of forage according to the season and the cattle performance objectives to be achieved-these values have been determined by national research-and is compared with the availability of existing forage, which is estimated using a centimeter ruler-developed in an extension project-that relates grass height to dry matter content per unit height and animal performance. The two factors, the amount of grass available and the need for forage supply, are relate, and according to the result of the index, if the result is between 0 and 0.6, we are in a red zone, in danger and urgent decisions are needed; between 0.6 and 0.8, yellow zone of caution and possible short term decisions; 0.8 to 1.2, green zone, with no immediate need for management changes, and values above 1.2, brown zone, which can only be reached in spring and summer, and due to the fact that most species are C4, this surplus is of very poor quality. Several field days and courses have shown that the index is easy to understand, while its application is strongly conditioned by the fact that the grass should be measured at least every season. Any technology or met hod that facilitates the measurement or estimation of forage availability will facilitate the use of the index and result in better livestock performance.