The Role of Proper Use Factor Model for the Prediction of Available Forage in Rangeland in the South of Iran

In Iran, 80 to 90% of the livestock production is associated with rangeland but 48% of the rangeland has been classified as in poor condition (Farahpour, 2002). Available Forage (AF) is that portion of the forage production accessible for use by a specified kind or class of grazing animal. Estimates of AF by plant species, consumption by the animal, and the contribution of the forage to the animal\u27s diet must be synchronised with each other in the same time frame (Valentine, 2001). The Proper Use Factor (PUF) is the degree of utilisation of current year\u27s growth of the vegetation that, if continued, will achieve management objectives and maintain or improve the long-term productivity of the site. The objective of this study was to identify and determine the PUF of forage that cause effect the qualitative and quantitative aspects of AF in rangeland of Bakkan, south Iran