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Update FAQ.md
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Updated livestock FAQ entry
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sarahp1980 authored Sep 9, 2024
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Expand Up @@ -195,7 +195,7 @@ Currently Holos does not offer the option to simulate different grazing systems,

### 2. How does Holos estimate pasture yields when animals are grazing on a field?
When the model user 'places' grazing animals on a perennial field (i.e., rangeland (native), seeded grassland, tame grass, tame legume, tame mixed (grass/legume)) for a specified period of time, Holos estimates the total annual aboveground biomass yield for each year based on the number of animals grazing on the field, the number of days spent grazing, the total daily dry matter intake and the pasture utilization rate (default values: 40% for grassland (native), 50% for seeded grassland, 60% for tame grass, tame legume and tame mixed (grass/legume) pasture). When there are two or more grazing periods in a calendar year, we assume that the leftover (i.e., unconsumed) forage/forage carbon (C) remaining at the end of the first grazing period is not returned to the soil but rather forms the basis for later vegetation growth that is consumed by grazing livestock in subsequent grazing periods in the same year. Therefore, leftover forage/C is added to the soil only at the end of the final grazing period in a given year, with the Cptosoil value for all earlier grazing periods set to zero. Further details of the methodology used to estimate aboveground biomass yield and C inputs to soil from forage residue on grazed fields can be found in Appendix 11 in the Holos algorithm document. Note: the user can adjust the default Utilization rates for each grazing animal group and field on the 'Grazing' tab for the relevant field in the user interface. The user can also override the Holos-estimated forage biomass yield estimates by entering custom yield estimates on the Details screen for the relevant field and years - these new yield estimates will then be used in all subsequent equations to estimate forage C and N inputs to the soil.
>*Please note: if the user chooses to override the Holos-estimated default yield values for grazed pastures by specifying a custom yield value on the Details screen, this custom yield should represent the amount of biomass consumed by the grazing livestock in the given year and not the total abovegound biomass produced, as behind the scenes Holos calculates the 'actual' aboveground biomass based on the entered yield value and the specified pasture utilization rate.*
>*Please note: if the user chooses to override the Holos-estimated default yield values for grazed pastures by specifying a custom yield value on the Details screen, this custom yield should represent the total aboveground biomass produced.*

### 3. How can I graze animals on harvested annual croplands (stubble grazing) in Holos?
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