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STOCKING RATE

STOCKING RATE. Definition. The number or biomass of animals stocked in a unit of land. Stocking rate units. 5 cattle/ha 5 KK cattle/ha 5 sheep/ha 5 animal units/ha (1 a.u. = one 2-year old cattle) 1000 kg biomass/ha. Importance of stocking rate. Understocked (stocking rate too low)

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STOCKING RATE

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  1. STOCKING RATE

  2. Definition The number or biomass of animals stocked in a unit of land

  3. Stocking rate units • 5 cattle/ha • 5 KK cattle/ha • 5 sheep/ha • 5 animal units/ha (1 a.u. = one 2-year old cattle) • 1000 kg biomass/ha

  4. Importance of stocking rate • Understocked (stocking rate too low) • The feed supply is not used to capacity • Pastures become mature and uneven • The farmer does not get maximum returns

  5. Overstocked (stocking rate too high) • Animals get inadequate feed • Pastures get too short and overgrazed • The farmer does not get maximum returns

  6. Optimum Stocking Rate The stocking rate which will give maximum animal production while sustaining pasture growth

  7. Factors determining optimum stocking rate • Type of pasture • Fertilizer input • Type of animals • Climate • Availability of supplementary feed

  8. Response of animals to stocking rate • Production per animal • Declines with increasing stocking rate • The decline is linear • Production per hectare • Increases with increasing s.r. up to a maximum then declines • The response is quadratic

  9. Yh = aX – bX2 Ya= a -bX

  10. Optimum stocking rate Y= a – bX Where Y=LWG per head X=stocking rate Optimum stocking rate = a/2b

  11. Y=a-bX • a = intercept • the maximum output per animal • Reflects the quality of pasture • High quality pastures have high value of a • b = slope • The decline in animal output with increase in stocking rate • Reflects quantity of pasture • Productive pastures have low value of b

  12. Optimum Stocking Rates for Beef Cattle

  13. Optimum Stocking Rate Dairy Cattle S/F = Sahiwal Friesian cross

  14. Optimum Stocking Rates for Goats and Sheep

  15. Effects of stocking rate, N fertilizer and grass species on animal production

  16. Effects of stocking rate on yield and composition of grass pasture

  17. END

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