A case study of lamb sale strategies for maximising sheep farm profits: A dissertation submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Bachelor of Agricultural Science with Honours in the University of Canterbury

Abstract

Since the meat companies took back control of all lamb marketing operations in New Zealand, which formerly had been the responsibility of the NZ Meat Board, the farmer has been subjected to fluctuating market prices for their lambs at the freezing works. The objectives of this linear programming model are: 1. To determine a farmer's optimal lamb drafting strategy, given the changing schedule prices between grades and months throughout the season. 2. To determine the physical and financial implications of WX lamb production. The linear programming model is based on Lincoln College's irrigated sheep farm at Lyndhurst. Lyndhurst was chosen for the purposes of this study because of the large amount of reliable data available on the property's grass growth rates, and because it is seen as being a representative Canterbury irrigated property. The advantage of an irrigated property for this study is its reliable pasture growth rates in summer. This enables good lamb - growth rates, and a flexible drafting policy to be maintained to take full advantage of all schedule premiums that may be offered throughout the season.