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Economical analysis of year round lamb production
Morel PCH, Kenyon PR, Morris ST
Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production, Volume 64, pp 179-182, Jan 2004
Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production, Volume 64, pp 179-182, Jan 2004
Article class: Conference Presentation
Subject Terms: Animal industries, Animal production/wastage, Environment, Evidence/information based methods, Farm/farm management, Finance/economics, Nutrition/metabolism, Parturition, Pasture/crop, Reproduction, Reproduction - female, Seasonality/photoperiod
Animal Type: Livestock, Production animal, Ruminant, Sheep, Sheep - lamb
Publisher: New Zealand Society of Animal ProductionAbstract
The traditional lamb production system in New Zealand is driven largely by the seasonal pattern of pasture growth and ewes lambing once a year. An alternative is the implementation of year-round lamb production systems such as the STAR system, where ewes lamb five times over a three-year period, thus providing a continuous supply of lambs. A modelling exercise was undertaken to assess the economic viability of the STAR system. The model simulates pasture growth and flock energy requirement on a daily basis over a three year period for both the traditional system and the STAR system and calculates gross margins. The model was run for a 100ha block using average Manawatu pasture growth rates. The two systems were set to consume 11000 kg DM/ha of pasture per year. The model indicates that, at the same lambing percentage (160%) the STAR system earned an extra 26% of income compared with the traditional system. Even at a lower lambing percentage (148 versus 160) the system can match a seasonal lamb production system. With a 10 % premium for out of season lambs the STAR system generates an extra 56% in profit.The whole of the literary matter of the Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production is copyright New Zealand Society of Animal Production, Downloading this article signifies agreement with the terms and conditions of electronic access.