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System Dynamics Modelling Approach to Determine Sustainable Stocking Rate for a Sheep Population in the Ethiopian Highlands

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Title System Dynamics Modelling Approach to Determine Sustainable Stocking Rate for a Sheep Population in the Ethiopian Highlands
 
Creator Gebre, Kahsa Tadel
 
Contributor Wurzinger, Maria
Gizaw Assefa, Solomon
Haile, Aynalem
Rischkowsky, Barbara
Sölkner, Johann
 
Subject systems productivity
farming practices
 
Description A system dynamics approach was used to determine the sustainable stocking rate of the Menz sheep population in the Ethiopian highland. A model was developed to simulate stocking rate based on communal grazing land. The model is weather and resource (feed supply) driven. Pasture growth and dynamics was modeled using rainfall and temperature data. Herd dynamics was based on age groups of male and female animals from birth to herd exit, taking production and reproduction parameters into account. To simulate sustainable stocking rate, a common unit (Tropical Livestock Unit, TLU) was used to represent the various classes of sheep. A higher stocking rate was observed in the long rainy season when the green pasture supply is higher. However, stocking rate was decreased with decrease in green and dry standing pasture in the long and short dry seasons. Application of the sustainable stocking rate in reality can be challenging since farmers keep large flocks and the pasture land is owned by groups of farmers. More awareness creation, including practical show-cases of the benefits of variation of stocking rate based on available resources, is needed to convince farmers in this and many other regions of Ethiopia.
 
Date 2017-03-06T02:46:39Z
2017-03-06T02:46:39Z
 
Type Conference Paper
 
Identifier http://aas.bf.uni-lj.si/zootehnika/supl/5-2016/PDF/5-2016-99-102.pdf
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/308616669_SYSTEM_DYNAMICS_MODELLING_APPROACH_TO_DETERMINE_SUSTAINABLE_STOCKING_RATE_FOR_A_SHEEP_POPULATION_IN_THE_ETHIOPIAN_HIGHLANDS
https://mel.cgiar.org/reporting/downloadmelspace/hash/k3AGzW0f/v/3a644d5e0d298cc178e75c3717bc5998
Kahsa Tadel Gebre, Maria Wurzinger, Solomon Gizaw Assefa, Aynalem Haile, Barbara Rischkowsky, Johann Sölkner. (21/9/2016). System Dynamics Modelling Approach to Determine Sustainable Stocking Rate for a Sheep Population in the Ethiopian Highlands. Ptuj, Slovenia.
https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11766/6177
Open access
 
Language en
 
Rights CC-BY-NC-ND-4.0
 
Format PDF
 
Publisher Acta agriculturae Slovenica
 
Source Supplement 5, 99–102