Using grazing systems modelling to assess economic, production and environmental risks to aid in selecting appropriate stocking rates

Abstract

Results of contemporary farm benchmarking are often used as the grounds for recommending wholesale change in farm management while often paying little heed to the associated risks involved. The current push to increase pasture utilisation rates through increased stocking rates is an example of generalised recommendations for which there is limited supporting data. Grazing systems models provide objective tools to help put the potential outcomes of various management options into context. They provide a framework to evaluate the impact of management options before they are implemented and can provide a fuller representation of the risks involved. This may help to avoid costly mistakes in terms of time, money and farm sustainability.