Relationship of wool production to stocking rate in Victoria

Abstract

Data from 14 stocking rate experiments, conducted over the period 1964-72, are used to derive a general relationship between wool production (W, kg sheep-1) and stocking rate (R, sheep ha-1), for the wool-growing areas of Victoria. This relationship is: W = (2.10 + 1.11P - 0.0045 C2) - (0.16 + 0.026 P - 0.00054 C2). R, where P ('productivity', kg sheep-1) and C ('carrying capacity', sheep ha-1) characterise any particular locality in a given year. The relationship is shown to be in accord with a simple theoretical model. In addition, some comparative ewe-wether relationships are presented.