Optimising pasture and grazing management decisions on the Cicerone Project farmlets over variable time horizons
Karl Behrendt A E , Oscar Cacho B , James M. Scott C and Randall Jones DA EH Graham Centre for Agricultural Innovation (Industry and Investment NSW and Charles Sturt University), Charles Sturt University, School of Agricultural and Wine Science, Wagga Wagga, NSW 2678, Australia.
B University of New England, School of Business, Economics and Public Policy, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia.
C University of New England, School of Environmental and Rural Science, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia.
D Industry and Investment NSW, Forest Road, Orange, NSW 2800, Australia.
E Corresponding author. Email: kbehrendt@csu.edu.au
Animal Production Science 53(8) 796-805 https://doi.org/10.1071/AN11174
Submitted: 12 August 2011 Accepted: 2 March 2012 Published: 10 July 2013
Journal Compilation © CSIRO Publishing 2013 Open Access CC BY-NC-ND
Abstract
This study addresses the problem of balancing the trade-offs between the need for animal production, profit, and the goal of achieving persistence of desirable species within grazing systems. The bioeconomic framework applied in this study takes into account the impact of climate risk and the management of pastures and grazing rules on the botanical composition of the pasture resource, a factor that impacts on livestock production and economic returns over time. The framework establishes the links between inputs, the state of the pasture resource and outputs, to identify optimal pasture development strategies. The analysis is based on the application of a dynamic pasture resource development simulation model within a seasonal stochastic dynamic programming framework. This enables the derivation of optimum decisions within complex grazing enterprises, over both short-term tactical (such as grazing rest) and long-term strategic (such as pasture renovation) time frames and under climatic uncertainty. The simulation model is parameterised using data and systems from the Cicerone Project farmlet experiment. Results indicate that the strategic decision of pasture renovation should only be considered when pastures are in a severely degraded state, whereas the tactical use of grazing rest or low stocking rates should be considered as the most profitable means of maintaining adequate proportions of desirable species within a pasture sward. The optimal stocking rates identified reflected a pattern which may best be described as a seasonal saving and consumption cycle. The optimal tactical and strategic decisions at different pasture states, based on biomass and species composition, varies both between seasons and in response to the imposed soil fertility regime. Implications of these findings at the whole-farm level are discussed in the context of the Cicerone Project farmlets.
References
Behrendt K (2008) ‘Bioeconomics of pasture resource development in sheep production systems.’ (The University of New England: Armidale, NSW)Behrendt K, Scott JM, Cacho O, Jones R (2013a) Simulating the impact of fertiliser strategies and prices on the economics of developing and managing the Cicerone Project farmlets under climatic uncertainty. Animal Production Science 53, 806–816.
| Simulating the impact of fertiliser strategies and prices on the economics of developing and managing the Cicerone Project farmlets under climatic uncertainty.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Behrendt K, Scott JM, Mackay DF, Murison R (2013b) Comparing the climate experienced during the Cicerone farmlet experiment against the climatic record. Animal Production Science 53, 658–669.
| Comparing the climate experienced during the Cicerone farmlet experiment against the climatic record.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Boschma SP, Scott JM (2000) Measuring and predicting the consequences of drought for a range of perennial grasses on the Northern Tablelands of New South Wales. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 40, 285–297.
| Measuring and predicting the consequences of drought for a range of perennial grasses on the Northern Tablelands of New South Wales.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Cacho O (1998) Solving bioeconomic optimal control models numerically. In ‘Proceedings of the bioeconomics workshop. Post-Australian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society conference, University of New England, Armidale, New South Wales’. (Ed. J Gooday) pp. 13–26. (Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics: Canberra)
Clark CW (1990) ‘Mathematical bioeconomics: the optimal management of renewable resources.’ (John Wiley and Sons Inc.: New York)
Colwell JD (1963) The estimation of the phosphorus fertilizer requirements of wheat in southern New South Wales by soil analysis. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture and Animal Husbandry 3, 190–197.
| The estimation of the phosphorus fertilizer requirements of wheat in southern New South Wales by soil analysis.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaF2cXnvVOhsQ%3D%3D&md5=10367a875bbe6a5bdbfd2d4075305cf8CAS |
Cook S, Blair G, Lazenby A (1978) Pasture degeneration. II. The importance of superphosphate, nitrogen and grazing management. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 29, 19–29.
| Pasture degeneration. II. The importance of superphosphate, nitrogen and grazing management.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaE1cXhtF2qtb4%3D&md5=eb1e445201f5793668a4980db6b8a9a1CAS |
Crofts FC (1997) Australian pasture production: the last 50 years. In ‘Pasture production and management’. (Eds JL Lovett, JM Scott) pp. 1–16. (Inkata Press: Marrickville)
CSIRO (2007) ‘AusFarm.’ (CSIRO Plant Industry: Canberra)
Davies L (2005) ‘Using DSEs and carrying capacities.’ (NSW Department of Primary Industries: Orange)
Davies L, Scott JF (2007) ‘Livestock gross margin budgets.’ (NSW Department of Primary Industries: Orange)
Dowling PM, Smith RCG (1976) Use of a soil moisture model and risk analysis to predict the optimum time for the aerial sowing of pastures on the Northern Tablelands of New South Wales. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture and Animal Husbandry 16, 871–874.
Dowling PM, Kemp DR, Ball PD, Langford CM, Michalk DL, Millar GD, Simpson PC, Thompson RP (2005) Effect of continuous and time-control grazing on grassland components in south-eastern Australia. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 45, 369–381.
| Effect of continuous and time-control grazing on grassland components in south-eastern Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Edwards C, Duncan M (2002) Extension activities improve producer awareness of soil health. In ‘Proceedings of the 17th annual conference of the Grassland Society of NSW 2002’. (Ed. A Bowman) pp. 48–49. (Grassland Society of NSW Inc.: Orange)
Freer M, Dove H, Nolan JV (Eds) (2007) ‘Nutrient requirements of domesticated ruminants.’ (CSIRO Publishing: Melbourne)
Garden DL, Bolger TP (2001) Interaction of competition and management in regulating composition and sustainability of native pasture. In ‘Competition and succession in pastures’. (Eds A Lazenby, PG Tow) pp. 213–232. (CAB International: Wallingford)
Hardaker JB, Pandey S, Patten LH (1991) Farm planning under uncertainty: a review of alternative programming models. Review of Marketing and Agricultural Economics 59, 9–22.
Hardaker JB, Huirne RBM, Anderson JR, Lien G (2004) ‘Coping with risk in agriculture.’ (CABI Publishing: Wallingford)
Johnson IR (2011) Testing and evaluating large-scale agricultural simulation models. In ‘MODSIM2011, 19th international congress on modelling and simulation’. (Eds F Chan, D Marinova, RS Anderssen) (Modelling and Simulation Society of Australia and New Zealand: Canberra). Available at http://www.mssanz.org.au/modsim2011/Keynote/johnson.pdf [Verified 19 June 2012]
Kemp DR, Michalk DL, Virgona JM (2000) Towards more sustainable pastures: lessons learnt. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 40, 343–356.
| Towards more sustainable pastures: lessons learnt.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Kennedy JOS (1986) ‘Dynamic programming – applications to agriculture and natural resources.’ (Elsevier: Amsterdam)
Keys MJ (1996) ‘Pasture establishment field guide.’ (NSW Agriculture: Queanbeyan)
Lodge GM, Scott JM, King KL, Hutchinson KJ (1998) A review of sustainable pasture production issues in temperate native and improved pastures. In ‘Animal production in Australia’. Available at http://www.asap.asn.au/livestocklibrary/1998/Lodge98.PDF [Verified 19 June 2012]
Michalk DL, Dowling PM, Kemp DR, King WMcG, Packer IJ, Holst PJ, Jones RE, Priest SM, Millar GD, Brisbane S, Stanley DF (2003) Sustainable grazing systems for the Central Tablelands, New South Wales. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 43, 861–874.
| Sustainable grazing systems for the Central Tablelands, New South Wales.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Morley FHW (1994) Drought prediction and budgets. In ‘Merinos, money and management’. (Ed. FHW Morley) pp. 249–262. (Post Graduate Committee in Veterinary Science, University of Sydney: Sydney)
Robinson GG, Lazenby A (1976) Effect of superphosphate, white clover and stocking rate on the productivity of natural pastures, Northern Tablelands, New South Wales. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture and Animal Husbandry 16, 209–217.
| Effect of superphosphate, white clover and stocking rate on the productivity of natural pastures, Northern Tablelands, New South Wales.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Scott JM (1997) Pasture establishment. In ‘Pasture production and management’. (Eds JV Lovett, JM Scott) pp. 171–190. (Inkata Press: Melbourne)
Scott JM, Cacho O (2000) Modelling the long-term effects on farm net worth of investments in pasture fertilizer under constraints of family expenditure. Agricultural Systems 63, 195–209.
| Modelling the long-term effects on farm net worth of investments in pasture fertilizer under constraints of family expenditure.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Scott JM, Lovett JV (1997) Pastures in sustainable systems. In ‘Pasture production and management’. (Eds JV Lovett, JM Scott) pp. 269–276. (Inkata Press: Melbourne)
Scott JF, Lodge GM, McCormick H (2000a) Economics of increasing the persistence of sown pastures: costs, stocking rate and cash flow. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 40, 313–323.
| Economics of increasing the persistence of sown pastures: costs, stocking rate and cash flow.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Scott JM, Hutchinson KJ, King K, Chen W, McLeod M, Blair BJ, White A, Wilkinson D, Lefroy RDB, Cresswell H, Daniel H, Harris C, MacLeod DA, Blair N, Chamberlain G (2000b) Quantifying the sustainability of grazed pastures on the Northern Tablelands of New South Wales. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 40, 257–265.
| Quantifying the sustainability of grazed pastures on the Northern Tablelands of New South Wales.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Scott JM, Gaden CA, Edwards C, Paull DR, Marchant R, Hoad J, Sutherland H, Coventry T, Dutton P (2013) Selection of experimental treatments, methods used and evolution of management guidelines for comparing and measuring three grazed farmlet systems. Animal Production Science 53, 628–642.
| Selection of experimental treatments, methods used and evolution of management guidelines for comparing and measuring three grazed farmlet systems.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Shakhane LM, Scott JM, Murison R, Mulcahy C, Hinch GN, Morrow A, Mackay DF (2013) Changes in botanical composition on three farmlets subjected to different pasture and grazing management strategies. Animal Production Science 53, 670–684.
| Changes in botanical composition on three farmlets subjected to different pasture and grazing management strategies.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Trebeck DB, Hardaker JB (1972) The integrated use of simulation and stochastic programming for whole farm planning under risk. Australian Journal of Agricultural Economics 16, 115–126.
| The integrated use of simulation and stochastic programming for whole farm planning under risk.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Whalley RDB, Hardy MB (2000) Measuring botanical composition of grasslands. In ‘Field and laboratory methods for grassland and animal production research’. (Eds L ‘t Mannetje, RM Jones) pp. 67–102. (CABI Publishing: Wallingford, UK)
