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Review Paper on Determining Stocking Rate in Tropical Countries by the Use of Tropical Animal Unit Month (Taum)

Received: 21 November 2016     Accepted: 28 December 2016     Published: 18 January 2017
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Abstract

This review paper is prepared with objective of to revise scientific information about how carrying capacity of a grazing land calculated in tropical Africa. An animal unit month (AUM) is the amount of dry forage one mature cow of approximately 250kg with a calf requires for one month in the tropical countries. Stocking rate is commonly stated as hectare per animal unit month (AUM) or its reciprocal, AUM's per hectare. One Tropical Livestock Unit (TLU) denotes the feed requirement of a standard animal of a certain live weight (usually 250 kg). Carrying capacity can be calculated either by Animal Unit Equivalents or Average Animal Weight. The steps followed to calculate stocking rate using Animal Unit Equivalents are determining total production of the area, calculating total “available” forage by using the “take half, leave half” method, either divide total production by 2, or multiply by 0.5, determine kilograms of forage eaten by cattle per month, calculate proper stocking rate for cattle, convert for Animal type you are using with Animal Unit Equivalents, and lastly calculating number of animals you can keep over the time needed consecutively. I case of Average Animal Weight Method the steps followed are determining total production of the area, calculate total “available” forage, calculate the required forage for the animal, regardless of the breed or species, and determine the daily and monthly forage requirement for their size by using the conversion factor of 2.667%, calculate proper stocking rate for class of livestock you are using and lastly determining the number of animals you can graze over the time needed.

Published in International Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology (Volume 2, Issue 1)
DOI 10.11648/j.ijmb.20170201.19
Page(s) 48-51
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2017. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Stocking Rate, Grazing Land, Tropical Animal Unit Month, Animal Unit Equivalent

References
[1] Fannin Country Appraisal District. 2015. Agriculture/Wildlife Management Policy Manual.
[2] Manske, L. L. 1995. Economic returns as affected by grazing strategies. NDSU Dickinson Research Extension Center. Range Research Report DREC 95-1012. Dickinson, ND. 20p.
[3] Manske, L. L. 1998a. Animal unit equivalent for beef cattle based on metabolic weight. NDSU Dickinson Research Extension Center. Range Management Report DREC 98-1020. Dickinson, ND. 3p.
[4] Manske, L. L. 1998b. How long is the average grazing season month? NDSU Dickinson Research Extension Center. Range Management Report DREC 98-1021. Dickinson, ND. 2p.
[5] Manske, L. L. 2004. Grassland selection, Annual Report.
[6] Mindy Pratt and G. Allen Rasmussen. 2001. Determining Stocking Rate. extension USU. edu.
[7] Naseri, A., & Kabul-Afghanistan, A. K. F. (2005). Animal nutrition training manual. National Animal Husbandry Advisor. Afghanistan.
[8] O. A. Olafadehan and M. K. Adewumi. 2010. Livestock Management and Production System of Agropastoralists in the Derived Savanna of South-West Nigeria.
[9] USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. National Range and Pasture Handbook. 1997.
[10] Zobel, Dale R. Beef Extension Specialist. Personal Communication. 2000.
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  • APA Style

    Mulisa Faji Dida. (2017). Review Paper on Determining Stocking Rate in Tropical Countries by the Use of Tropical Animal Unit Month (Taum). International Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology, 2(1), 48-51. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijmb.20170201.19

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    ACS Style

    Mulisa Faji Dida. Review Paper on Determining Stocking Rate in Tropical Countries by the Use of Tropical Animal Unit Month (Taum). Int. J. Microbiol. Biotechnol. 2017, 2(1), 48-51. doi: 10.11648/j.ijmb.20170201.19

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    AMA Style

    Mulisa Faji Dida. Review Paper on Determining Stocking Rate in Tropical Countries by the Use of Tropical Animal Unit Month (Taum). Int J Microbiol Biotechnol. 2017;2(1):48-51. doi: 10.11648/j.ijmb.20170201.19

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ijmb.20170201.19,
      author = {Mulisa Faji Dida},
      title = {Review Paper on Determining Stocking Rate in Tropical Countries by the Use of Tropical Animal Unit Month (Taum)},
      journal = {International Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology},
      volume = {2},
      number = {1},
      pages = {48-51},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ijmb.20170201.19},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijmb.20170201.19},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijmb.20170201.19},
      abstract = {This review paper is prepared with objective of to revise scientific information about how carrying capacity of a grazing land calculated in tropical Africa. An animal unit month (AUM) is the amount of dry forage one mature cow of approximately 250kg with a calf requires for one month in the tropical countries. Stocking rate is commonly stated as hectare per animal unit month (AUM) or its reciprocal, AUM's per hectare. One Tropical Livestock Unit (TLU) denotes the feed requirement of a standard animal of a certain live weight (usually 250 kg). Carrying capacity can be calculated either by Animal Unit Equivalents or Average Animal Weight. The steps followed to calculate stocking rate using Animal Unit Equivalents are determining total production of the area, calculating total “available” forage by using the “take half, leave half” method, either divide total production by 2, or multiply by 0.5, determine kilograms of forage eaten by cattle per month, calculate proper stocking rate for cattle, convert for Animal type you are using with Animal Unit Equivalents, and lastly calculating number of animals you can keep over the time needed consecutively. I case of Average Animal Weight Method the steps followed are determining total production of the area, calculate total “available” forage, calculate the required forage for the animal, regardless of the breed or species, and determine the daily and monthly forage requirement for their size by using the conversion factor of 2.667%, calculate proper stocking rate for class of livestock you are using and lastly determining the number of animals you can graze over the time needed.},
     year = {2017}
    }
    

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    T1  - Review Paper on Determining Stocking Rate in Tropical Countries by the Use of Tropical Animal Unit Month (Taum)
    AU  - Mulisa Faji Dida
    Y1  - 2017/01/18
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    AB  - This review paper is prepared with objective of to revise scientific information about how carrying capacity of a grazing land calculated in tropical Africa. An animal unit month (AUM) is the amount of dry forage one mature cow of approximately 250kg with a calf requires for one month in the tropical countries. Stocking rate is commonly stated as hectare per animal unit month (AUM) or its reciprocal, AUM's per hectare. One Tropical Livestock Unit (TLU) denotes the feed requirement of a standard animal of a certain live weight (usually 250 kg). Carrying capacity can be calculated either by Animal Unit Equivalents or Average Animal Weight. The steps followed to calculate stocking rate using Animal Unit Equivalents are determining total production of the area, calculating total “available” forage by using the “take half, leave half” method, either divide total production by 2, or multiply by 0.5, determine kilograms of forage eaten by cattle per month, calculate proper stocking rate for cattle, convert for Animal type you are using with Animal Unit Equivalents, and lastly calculating number of animals you can keep over the time needed consecutively. I case of Average Animal Weight Method the steps followed are determining total production of the area, calculate total “available” forage, calculate the required forage for the animal, regardless of the breed or species, and determine the daily and monthly forage requirement for their size by using the conversion factor of 2.667%, calculate proper stocking rate for class of livestock you are using and lastly determining the number of animals you can graze over the time needed.
    VL  - 2
    IS  - 1
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Author Information
  • Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research, Assosa Agricultural Research Center, Assosa, Ethiopia

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