Publication Date
1989
Description
One of the best known mathematical representations of the relationship between stocking rate and individual animal production, that of Mot (1960), postulated a modified exponential relationship. Subsequent workers, however, derived a linear relationship between stocking rate and production per animal unit, at least at stocking rates beyond a certain minimum value. One of these relationships, that of Jones & Sandland (1974), is widely used in South Africa. The results of grazing trials with sheep on complex grass/legume mixtures in the winter rainfall region of South Africa (van Heerden & Tainton, 1987-1988), however, suggested a degree of non-linearity in this relationship. Wool production and animal daily gain data from a number of grazing trials were therefore pooled and used to evaluate the Jones & Sandland (1974) model.
Citation
Heerden, J.M Van and Tainton, N M., "Development of a General Relationship Between Stocking Rate and Animal Production" (2025). IGC Proceedings (1989-2023). 46.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1989/session9/46
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
Development of a General Relationship Between Stocking Rate and Animal Production
One of the best known mathematical representations of the relationship between stocking rate and individual animal production, that of Mot (1960), postulated a modified exponential relationship. Subsequent workers, however, derived a linear relationship between stocking rate and production per animal unit, at least at stocking rates beyond a certain minimum value. One of these relationships, that of Jones & Sandland (1974), is widely used in South Africa. The results of grazing trials with sheep on complex grass/legume mixtures in the winter rainfall region of South Africa (van Heerden & Tainton, 1987-1988), however, suggested a degree of non-linearity in this relationship. Wool production and animal daily gain data from a number of grazing trials were therefore pooled and used to evaluate the Jones & Sandland (1974) model.
