A major driver of natural resource condition trend is the level of total grazing pressure over time. Carrying capacity is the stocking rate that achieves a targeted level of animal or economic performance over a defined period of time with- out causing deterioration of the pasture ecosys- tem. Carrying capacity is essentially the stocking rate that is considered sustainable in the long-term (5–10 years) and relates to the number of livestock that may be maintained on an area of land on an ongoing basis. i.e. It has been defined as an ox which weighs 450 kg and which grows at 50 g per day on a grazing field which are 55% digestible. CARRYING CAPACITY REVIEW Spektrum Review PCC 2018 ABSTRACT This report was commissioned by Landgate to reassess the Potential Carrying Capacity of the majority of the leases in the Kimberley, Pilbara and Southern Rangelands. When matching grazing pressure and carrying capacity, the goal is to devise a management system that will optimize animal and forage production over the long-term, rather than attempting to maximize either factor by itself. Carrying Capacity Therefore this level of stocking will not greatly harm land condition; it is a risk-adverse approach to managing stocking rates. To use the resources below, you will need to know the number and type of livestock you plan to graze, for how long, and the approximate amount of forage you have available. Carrying capacity refers to the forage-produc- ing capacity of various pastures. Stocking rate is a management decision of how many cattle to put on the pasture. Another way of calculating the current stocking If you have livestock, or plan on running livestock on your property, it’s important that you understand how many head your property can support, known as your property’s Carrying Capacity . 10 dry sheep @ 60 kg each in a 2 hectare paddock. Carrying Capacity with Sheep How many sheep can you raise per acre? capacity (or grazing capacity) of the land. Stocking rate is generally expressed as animal units per unit of land area. Department of Aquaculture, Fisheries, and Wildlife, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina 29634 USA . Jeffery S. Terhune. Stocking rate and carrying capacity are used interchangeably and incorrectly in conversation by a lot of people. Corresponding Author. Thomas E. Schwedler. The calculated carrying capacity (CC) value for the district ranges between 0 and 1 TLU ha −1 year −1 (1–21.7 ha TLU −1 year −1) with average value of 0.3 TLU ha −1 year −1 (4.9 ha TLU −1 year −1); while, the existing stocking rate has become 5.4 TLU ha −1 year −1 (0.18 ha TLU −1 year −1). In this article I give my views and understanding of Carrying Capacity and Stocking Rate. Carrying Capacity is how it should be ideally. Some of these regional differences can be explained by animal movements during the production year. A term that is used to help understand and estimate forage requirements is the animal unit (AU) concept (Table 1). The central, east, southwest, northeast, and south-central regions were above their carrying capacity while the Panhandle, Sandhills, and North Central regions were below their carrying capacity (Table 1). The long-term carrying capacity of rangeland refers to the average stocking rate a given amount of land can support for several years without damage to that resource. Resources for Calculating Stocking Rate and Carrying Capacity. There are two main types of carrying capacity—long-term carrying capacity or short-term carrying capacity, otherwise known as forage or dry season pasture budgeting. OBJECTIVE To determine the upper limits to Nile tilapia production utilizing supplemental feeds. Stocking rate or Carrying Capacity The number of cattle carried in a paddock or on a property - usually expressed as the number of cattle or breeding units per hectare. Carrying capacity in terms of the animal unit (AU) concept. In adaptive management, trends in vegetation change are used to adjust the stocking rate of an area according to the management objectives of that area. 1 AU / 15 Acres How many cows will your land support in Texas? Stocking rate & carrying capacity . carrying capacity of grazing animals on rangelands. Fact Sheet 788 Understanding Pasture Stocking Rate and Carrying For example, a herd of 30 cows on a 20-acre rotational grazing paddock has a stocking density of 1.5 animal units per acre, even though the stocking rate for the 160 acre pasture remains at 0.75 AUMs/ acre. Stocking density is the number of animals on a particular piece of land at a particular point in time. View Essay - Understanding-Pasture-Stocking-Rate-and-Carrying-Capacity.pdf from ECONOMICS 238 at Harvard University. Carrying capacity is the stocking rate that is sustainable over time per unit of land area. Calculating the long-term carrying capacity provides an indication of the safe stocking rate under a set stocking regime and provides a benchmark for projections, forecasting and ongoing management. the stocking rate agrees with the carrying capacity of the land. Carrying capacity, tourism Carrying capacity is a concept that has been widely applied in tourism and recreation studies since the 1960s, although some authors trace its emergence to as far back as 1930. It is often couched in the context of issues like, biodiversity, large mammal populations and human populations. The paddock is carrying 10 x 60 = 600kg/(2 hectares) which equates to 300 kg per ha and divide by 50 (DSE value) giving you 6 DSE per hectare. Carrying capacity refers to the forage-produc-ing capacity of various pastures. So let’s examine on what factors it depends. can also be used to determine initial stocking rates. Stocking rate is how many animal units (AUs) of livestock are grazing or using the land in a certain period. A critical factor to evaluate is how well the stocking rate agrees with the carrying capacity of the land. Table 1. This stocking strategy is based on an assessment of expected market conditions and rangeland capacity for sustainable livestock production, often referred to as grazing capacity or carrying capacity. Managing grazing pressure so that a negative trend in condition is avoided requires an understanding of the carrying capacity of your property and individual paddocks and how these differ to stocking rates. The AUM provides us with the approximate amount of forage a 1000 lb cow with calf will eat in one month. 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