Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/9156
Title: Application of the Double-Normal Distribution to Measurements of Sward Height for Kikuyu Pastures Grazed by Dairy Cows at Different Grazing Durations
Contributor(s): Dobos, Robin Christopher  (author)orcid ; Fulkerson, WJ (author); Hinch, Geoffrey  (author)orcid 
Publication Date: 2008
Handle Link: https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/9156
Abstract: Sward height (SH) distributions are frequently summarised by the sample mean and standard error. This is most appropriate when the population distribution is approximately symmetrical. However, in continuously grazed swards a combination of relatively 'short' and 'tall' patches in pasture are created and maintained by cattle through selective grazing (Edwards et al. 1997). The relative proportions of 'short' and 'tall' areas are largely affected by management factors such as grazing intensity and the length of the grazing session. Sward heterogeneity is important for a number of reasons. It will affect subsequent utilisation by grazing animals which may in turn affect patterns of nutrient return and treading damage. It may also affect inter-plant competition and potentially the species composition of the sward in the long term. Frequencies of SH usually show a skewed distribution and the representation of a single mean SH is potentially misleading (Gibb and Ridout 1986). Sward height data from an experiment designed to measure the behaviour of dairy cows grazing kikuyu pastures at two different sward heights (SH: 10 and 13 cm) and grazing durations (1, 2, 4, 8 and 15h) was used to determine the ability of a double-normal (DN) distribution to describe changes over the grazing treatments in the mean heights of the 'short' and 'tall' components of the sward.
Publication Type: Conference Publication
Conference Details: ASAP 2008: First Joint Conference of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production and the Australian Society of Animal Production - From Science To Application, Brisbane, Australia, 23rd - 27th June, 2008
Source of Publication: Proceedings of the Australian Society of Animal Production 27th Biennial Conference, v.27, p. 79-79
Publisher: Australian Society of Animal Production (ASAP)
Place of Publication: Roseworthy, Australia
Fields of Research (FoR) 2008: 070301 Agro-ecosystem Function and Prediction
Socio-Economic Objective (SEO) 2008: 830406 Sown Pastures (excl. Lucerne)
HERDC Category Description: E3 Extract of Scholarly Conference Publication
Publisher/associated links: http://www.asap.asn.au/livestocklibrary/2008/dobos079.pdf
Appears in Collections:Conference Publication

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