Moisture content and bale temperature. Initial bale moisture differed among treatments. However, the low moisture treatment in 2008 was slightly greater (17%) than the target moisture range of less than 15%. However, this moisture content proved to be critically important.
The animal unit month (AUM) has historically been used as a unit of forage. consumption and the basis of permits, stocking rates and fees for grazing public. lands. This report provides a review and update of current livestock weights and. forage consumption rates, clarifies the definition of an AUM and proposes means.
Livestock grazing is the prevailing use of BLM lands, with 137.7 million acres, or 79 percent out of 174.5 million acres of BLM land in the West authorized for livestock grazing in 2004. (GAO 2005, 15) Acres grazed differ from year to year, and were especially low in 2004 because of the drought.