Alternative management strategies and drafting policies for irrigated Canterbury sheep farms

Abstract

The study reported in this publication is part of the A.E.R.U.'s continuing research effort into the seasonality of ruminant animal production in New Zealand. The philosophy behind the programme of research is that production, transport and killing and processing activities should be viewed as an integrated system in order to maximise the efficient use of resources. Smoothing the existing seasonal peak flow of lambs should allow the downstream sectors to be more efficient resulting in lower charges to the producing sector. However, producing other than at the 'peak' can be more costly at the farm level. The objective of the research programme is to estabish the relative costs and savings associated with changes in different parts of the production-processing system. In the present study, Nicola Shadbolt (graduate research fellow in the A.E.R.U. from 1979 to 1981) reports on a simulation model that addresses the management potential for smoothing the peak production of lambs on irrigated Canterbury sheep farms.