Cattle grazing under Pinus caribaea

An analysis is made of the animal stocking rate used in commercial Pinus caribaea plantations 2.5–8.5 yr old. Pines were planted at 2.5 × 2.5 m and programmed for clear-cut harvest at 10 yr rotations (pulpwood). Cattle grazing was introduced to reduce weeding costs.Stocking rate in 1983–1985 was 0.67 AU/ha/yr (AU = animal units 350 kg live weight). A quadratic model calculated using 1984 data (S = 0.0108 + 0.385A–0.0418A²) describes the relationship between animal stocking rate (S) and stand age (A 9.5 in yr).The model predicts a maximum of 0.89 AU/ha/yr at plantation age 4.5 yr. Grazing started at plantation ages 2.5 yr; no plantations older than 9.5 yr are grazed.