A mathematical model of a grazing system including beetles

[PAGES SCANNED INCORRECTLY] A number of mathematical studies of herbivore (predator)- grass (prey) models (e.g. Noy-Meir 1975,_ 1976,1978; Wielgolaski 1973; Christian et al. 1978) have been developed. With the exception of a few (Jackson 1980), in all these models the accumulation of dung in pastures is regarded as being negligible. In reality herb~vore dung may cover a non-negligible area of pasture and thus sensibly reduce the carrying capacity of the grazing land. Waterhouse (1974) found that an average of 12 dung pads are dropped by a single bovine every day. According to MacLusky (1960) cattle dung blankets an area of approximately 6600sq.cm per cow p.er day. If the pads are not disposed of, and taking into account the ensuing unpalatable reduced by (Waterhouse, rank growth, the effective area of pasture is thereby each animal by about 20% of an acre per year 1974). Hence one can give a conservative estimation that one million cattle may be putting out of service as much as 100000 acres of grazing land per annum, an area which can feed about 30000 cattle.

Grantor

Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics

Year dc:date.issued

1982

Author dc:creator

• Xulu, Sibusiso Southwell

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/11427/40486

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/40486