Abstract
Grazing management, i.e. matching the grass supply with feed demands, is complex. It involves
many interventions such as varying the length of grazing rotation, nitrogen fertilization,
supplementation, access time, stocking rate, paddock size, removal of surplus grass and
topping. It is difficult to foresee the effects on animal and grassland production when two or
more interventions are executed simultaneously. The GrazeVision decision support model is
developed for farmers to simulate the effects of one or more management interventions at the
same time. The inputs for GrazeVision are: nitrogen application rate, soil, season, target residual
herbage mass, herd demography, paddock size, access time and supplementary feeding. The
outputs are: predicted initial herbage mass, herbage intake, substitution rate of supplemental
feeding, paddock residence time, herbage available for cutting, rejected herbage mass (tall
patches), herbage loss due to fouling with dung, trampling and poaching, herbage utilization,
total milk production and changes in milk production during paddock residence time. Farm
profitability is calculated after allocation of input prices and product returns. The GrazeVision
grazing decision model is incorporated in the DairyWise whole-farm decision model and
available as a stand-alone internet application www.koeenwij.nl.
Original language | English |
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Title of host publication | 16th EGF Symposium, Grassland Science in Europe, Raumberg-Gumpenstein, Austria, 28 - 31 August, 2011 |
Editors | E.M. Pötsch, B. Krautzer, A. Hopkins |
Place of Publication | Irdning, Austria |
Publisher | Agricultural Research and Education Centre Raumberg-Gumpenstein |
Pages | 226-228 |
Volume | 16 |
ISBN (Print) | 9783902559654 |
Publication status | Published - 2011 |
Event | Grassland Farmig and Land Management Systems in Mountainous Regions - Duration: 28 Aug 2011 → 31 Aug 2011 |
Conference
Conference | Grassland Farmig and Land Management Systems in Mountainous Regions |
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Period | 28/08/11 → 31/08/11 |