1. biometrics the amount of anything on a given area, particularly in relation to what is considered optimum 2. silviculture an indication of growing-space occupancy relative to a preestablished standard —note common indices of stocking are based on percent occupancy, basal area, relative density, stand density index, and crown competition factor —see stand density 3. wildlife management releasing wildlife, particularly mammals, birds, and fish, specifically reared or captured elsewhere, into a given habitat for replenishment purposes 4. wildlife management the relative amount of animals, birds, and fish in a given habitat 5. range management the number of specific kinds and classes of animals grazing or utilizing a unit of land for a specified time period —note 1. stocking may be expressed as animal unit months (AUM) or animal unit days per acre, hectare, or section, or the reciprocal (area of land per animal unit month or day) —note 2. when dual use is practiced (e.g., cattle and sheep), stocking rate is often expressed as AUMs per unit of land or the reciprocal —see allowable use, continuous stocking, nonuse, proper-use factor, rotational stocking, set stocking, target stocking This definition last updated 10/14/2008