Abstract
A simple model of depletion by a grazing ruminant was tested at high depletion levels and for different sizes of feeding station. The model divides an initially uniform sward profile into grazing horizons, dependent on bite depth, and assumes a constant within‐horizon bite area. Two grazing experiments were conducted using cattle. Uniform areas of oats and alfalfa herbage were grazed individually to a high level of depletion (≈150 bites m –2 ). Feeding station areas were 0·16, 0·30 and 0·53 m 2 . Initial sward heights were 10 and 20 cm in oats and 20 cm in alfalfa. Size of area did not significantly affect the observed number of bites removed per square metre, the mean residual herbage height or mass, or the proportion of each grazing horizon depleted, derived from the frequency distribution of residual heights. The mean residual height for all treatment combinations could be explained by assuming a ‘take half’ rule for mean bite depth, and allowing for the derived proportion of the area of each grazing horizon depleted. A simple bite placement simulator was used to generate, for a single grazing horizon and for a given maximum potential area of a bite, the expected relationship among mean effective area of a bite, the proportion of the area of the horizon grazed and the number of bites removed per unit area. The simulator mimics a loosely systematic grazing style. The observed bite numbers and the derived proportions of grazing horizon depleted can be reconciled if the within‐horizon mean effective bite area is not constant but declines as predicted by the bite placement simulator. The implications for the shape of the gain function within a feeding station are discussed.
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Claims 4
Claim · model-written summary
Feeding station size did not significantly affect the number of bites removed per square metre in oats or alfalfa.
- Taxon
- oats and alfalfa
Medicago sativa
Avena sativae7 - Treatment
- sizes of feeding statione6
- Outcome
- number of bites removed per square metree1
- Direction
- no_changeinferrede1
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e1“Size of area did not significantly affect the observed number of bites removed per square metre”
e7“Uniform areas of oats and alfalfa herbage were grazed individually”
e6“for different sizes of feeding station”
Claim · model-written summary
Feeding station size did not significantly affect mean residual herbage height or mass, or the proportion of each grazing horizon depleted.
- Taxon
- oats and alfalfaMedicago sativaAvena sativae7
- Treatment
- sizes of feeding statione6
- Outcome
- the mean residual herbage height or mass, or the proportion of each grazing horizon depletede2
- Direction
- no_changeinferrede2
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e1“Size of area did not significantly affect the observed number of bites removed per square metre”
e2“the mean residual herbage height or mass, or the proportion of each grazing horizon depleted”
e7“Uniform areas of oats and alfalfa herbage were grazed individually”
e6“for different sizes of feeding station”
Claim · model-written summary
The mean residual height for all treatment combinations is explained by a take-half rule for mean bite depth.
- Taxon
- oats and alfalfaMedicago sativaAvena sativae7
- Outcome
- mean residual heighte4
- Qualifier
- rule for mean bite depthe3
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e4“The mean residual height for all treatment combinations could be explained”
e3“rule for mean bite depth”
e7“Uniform areas of oats and alfalfa herbage were grazed individually”
Claim · model-written summary
Observed bite numbers and derived depletion proportions are reconciled if the within-horizon mean effective bite area declines.
- Taxon
- oats and alfalfaMedicago sativaAvena sativae7
- Outcome
- observed bite numberse5
- Qualifier
- within‐horizon mean effective bite area is not constant but declinese5
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e5“The observed bite numbers and the derived proportions of grazing horizon depleted can be reconciled if the within‐horizon mean effective bite area is not constant but declines”
e7“Uniform areas of oats and alfalfa herbage were grazed individually”
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