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RESEARCH ARTICLE (Open Access)
Contents Vol 64(7)

Identifying high-value tactical livestock decisions on a mixed enterprise farm in a variable environment

Michael Young https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6072-5439 A B * , John Young https://orcid.org/0009-0009-5557-5585 C , Ross S. Kingwell https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0324-9488 A D E and Philip E. Vercoe https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3061-1908 A B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A School of Agriculture and Environment, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Perth, WA 6009, Australia.

B Institute of Agriculture, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Perth, WA 6009, Australia.

C Farming Systems Analysis Service, Kentdale, WA, Australia.

D Australian Export Grains Innovation Centre, South Perth, WA, Australia.

E Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, South Perth, WA, Australia.

* Correspondence to: youngmr44@gmail.com

Handling Editor: Dean Thomas

Animal Production Science 64, AN23407 https://doi.org/10.1071/AN23407
Submitted: 18 December 2023  Accepted: 15 April 2024  Published: 3 May 2024

© 2024 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY)

Abstract

Context

Australia is renowned for its climate variation, featuring years with drought and years with floods, which result in significant production and profit variability. Accordingly, to maximise profitability, dryland farming systems need to be dynamically managed in response to unfolding weather conditions.

Aims

The aim of this study is to identify and quantify optimal tactical livestock management for different weather-years.

Methods

This study employed a whole-farm optimisation model to analyse a representative mixed enterprise farm located in the Great Southern region of Western Australia. Using this model, we investigated the economic significance of five key livestock management tactics. These included timing of sheep sales, pasture-area adjustments, rotational grazing, crop grazing and sheep nutrition adjustments.

Key results

The results showed that, on the modelled dryland mixed-enterprise farm in the Great Southern region of Western Australia, short-term adjustments to the overall farm strategy in response to unfolding weather conditions increased expected profit by approximately 16%. Each tactic boosted profit by between A$7704 and A$53,171. However, we outline several complexities that farmers must consider when implementing tactics.

Conclusions

The financial gains from short-term tactical management highlighted their importance and farmers’ need to develop and apply those skills. The tactical skills promote business resilience and adaptability in the face of climate uncertainties.

Implications

The study highlighted the economic value of dynamic livestock management in response to climate variations, offering farmers in the Great Southern region the means to underpin profitable and sustainable farm practices.

Keywords: AFO, Australian Farm Optimisation Model, discrete stochastic programming, economic optimisation modelling, farming systems, sheep management, tactical farm management, weather variability.

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