TY - JOUR T1 - Estimation of stocking rate on New Mexico rangelands JF - Journal of Soil and Water Conservation SP - 116 LP - 119 VL - 47 IS - 1 AU - Jerry L. Holechek AU - Rex D. Pieper Y1 - 1992/01/01 UR - http://www.jswconline.org/content/47/1/116.abstract N2 - Successful range management depends on the selection of the correct stocking rate. Evaluations of the reliability of different stocking rate procedures have not been published, however. In this study, six stocking rate procedures were compared using long-term data from moderately (sustainably) stocked Chihuahuan desert and shortgrass prairie experimentul ranges in New Mexico. Without adjustment for distance ffom water and for slope, all procedures gave stocking rate estimates much heavier than the ranges actually carried. A quantitative stocking rate procedure that bases guidelines on available research relative to forage utilization, forage intake, adjustment for distance from water, and adjustment for slope underestimated actual stocking rate by an average of 10%. It appears this procedure can provide reasonable stocking rate estimates for most western U.S. rangelands, providing reliable data are available on standing crop of the key forage species. ER -