Assessment of Forage Resource Component Complementarity in Pastoral Systems

Managing the heterogeneous mix of forage and land resources typical of the majority of pastoral systems results in “system benefits” such that more forage energy is produced, and consumed by livestock, than would be the case if the forage resource units were managed in isolation. The actual forage energy production for forage resources cannot be used alone to quantify the value of individual forage resources because the nature and extent of any complementarity is not captured.

In a unique approach developed by myself, RAPS has the capacity to generate forage resource indices relating to complementarity. The indices may then be used as decision support to improve system management, and also to analyse related economic opportunity costs of removing individual or groups of forage resources from grazing and to evaluate improving forage resources by land development.

An example of the application of RAPS generated Forage Resource Complementarity Indices is presented is a paper entitled Forage Resource Values for Measuring the Production and Economic Contribution of Different Pastoral Resources on High Country Farms, written by Agricultural Economist Peter Jarvis and myself.

A PDF of the document is available. A request for a copy can be made via the Contact Form. Please mention “Complementarity”.

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