Optimization of Profit for Pasture-Based Beef Cattle and Sheep Farming Using Linear Programming: Model Development and Evaluation

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dc.citation.issue6
dc.citation.volume11
dc.contributor.authorAddis AH
dc.contributor.authorBlair HT
dc.contributor.authorKenyon PR
dc.contributor.authorMorris ST
dc.contributor.authorSchreurs NM
dc.date.accessioned2024-01-04T19:13:33Z
dc.date.accessioned2024-07-25T06:45:22Z
dc.date.available2024-01-04T19:13:33Z
dc.date.available2024-07-25T06:45:22Z
dc.date.issued2021-06-04
dc.description.abstractA linear programming optimization tool is useful to assist farmers with optimizing resource allocation and profitability. This study developed a linear programming profit optimization model with a silage supplement scenario. Utilizable kilograms of pasture dry matter (kg DM) of the total pasture mass was derived using minimum and maximum pasture mass available for beef cattle and sheep and herbage utilization percentage. Daily metabolizable energy (MJ ME/head) requirements for the various activities of beef cattle and sheep were estimated and then converted to kg DM/head on a bi-monthly basis. Linear programming was employed to identify the optimum carrying capacity of beef cattle and sheep, the most profitable slaughtering ages of beef cattle, the number of prime lambs (sold to meat processing plants), and sold store lambs (sold to other farmers for finishing). Gross farm revenue (GFR) and farm earnings before tax (EBT) per hectare and per stock unit, as well as total farm expenditure (TFE), were calculated and compared to the average value of Taranaki-Manawatu North Island intensive finishing sheep and beef Class 5 farming using Beef and Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) data. The modeled farm ran 46% more stock units (a stock unit consumed 550 kg DM/year) than the average value of Class 5 farms. At this stocking rate, 83% of the total feed supplied for each species was consumed, and pasture supplied 95% and 98% of beef cattle and sheep feed demands respectively. More than 70% of beef cattle were finished before the second winter. This enabled the optimized system to return 53% and 188% higher GFR/ha and EBT/ha, respectively, compared to the average values for a Class 5 farm. This paper did not address risk, such as pasture growth and price fluctuations. To understand this, several additional scenarios could be examined using this model. Further studies to include alternative herbages and crops for feed supply during summer and winter are required to expand the applicability of the model for different sheep and beef cattle farm systems.
dc.description.confidentialfalse
dc.description.notesarticle-number: 524
dc.identifier.author-urlhttp://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000665549400001&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=c5bb3b2499afac691c2e3c1a83ef6fef
dc.identifier.citationAddis AH, Blair HT, Kenyon PR, Morris ST, Schreurs NM. (2021). Optimization of profit for pasture-based beef cattle and sheep farming using linear programming: Model development and evaluation. Agriculture (Switzerland). 11. 6.
dc.identifier.doi10.3390/agriculture11060524
dc.identifier.eissn2077-0472
dc.identifier.elements-typejournal-article
dc.identifier.issn2077-0472
dc.identifier.numberARTN 524
dc.identifier.urihttps://mro.massey.ac.nz/handle/10179/70799
dc.publisherMDPI (Basel, Switzerland)
dc.publisher.urihttps://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/11/6/524
dc.relation.isPartOfAgriculture (Switzerland)
dc.rights(c) The author/sen
dc.rights.licenseCC BY 4.0en
dc.rights.urihttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/en
dc.subjectlinear programming
dc.subjectprofit optimization
dc.subjectpasture utilization
dc.subjectsheep and beef farm
dc.subjectslaughter age
dc.titleOptimization of Profit for Pasture-Based Beef Cattle and Sheep Farming Using Linear Programming: Model Development and Evaluation
dc.typeJournal article
pubs.elements-id446871
pubs.organisational-groupOther
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