Publication Date
1989
Description
The south-western part of Western Australia has a Mediterranean type climate characterized by a dry summer/autumn period that can extend over more than six months. The quantity and the quality of the dry pastures progressivily deteriorate from senescence until the break of season when germination occurs. Although dry adult sheep usually maintain weight in the first two months, weight losses can be high in autumn unless supplements are fed. It is important for farmers at the beginning of summer to obtain an estimate of the amount of supplements they need to purchase or keep in storage and what would be the effect of a drought in which the break of season is delayed for a certain number of weeks. At that time, buying extra supplementary feed or selling sheep can be very costly to the farmer, and this model aims at reducing these costs by matching feed resources to stocking rate. On the pasture side, it is important to maintain an adequate amount of ground cover, as strong winds can blow off the top layer of soil that is rich in organic matter, causing major erosion problems.
Citation
Orsini, J.P G., "Summerpack*, a Computer Package for Sheep and Pasture Management over the Summer/Autumn Period in a Mediterranean Environment" (2025). IGC Proceedings (1989-2023). 4.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1989/session11/4
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
Summerpack*, a Computer Package for Sheep and Pasture Management over the Summer/Autumn Period in a Mediterranean Environment
The south-western part of Western Australia has a Mediterranean type climate characterized by a dry summer/autumn period that can extend over more than six months. The quantity and the quality of the dry pastures progressivily deteriorate from senescence until the break of season when germination occurs. Although dry adult sheep usually maintain weight in the first two months, weight losses can be high in autumn unless supplements are fed. It is important for farmers at the beginning of summer to obtain an estimate of the amount of supplements they need to purchase or keep in storage and what would be the effect of a drought in which the break of season is delayed for a certain number of weeks. At that time, buying extra supplementary feed or selling sheep can be very costly to the farmer, and this model aims at reducing these costs by matching feed resources to stocking rate. On the pasture side, it is important to maintain an adequate amount of ground cover, as strong winds can blow off the top layer of soil that is rich in organic matter, causing major erosion problems.
