Project Title: Review of Opportunities for Developing Integrated Models of Crop-livestock Interactions.
Description: This desk study was commissioned to include a critical review of existing livestock management-oriented computer models and their suitability for linking to existing crop models for a more integrated view of the operation of crop-livestock systems. During the course of the study, a set of general recommendations were formulated on how the integration of such models for system characterisation, impact assessment and intervention targeting might be achieved in practise. The review concluded that there would be considerable scope for adopting this approach although no single combination of models could be identified. Three main areas were identified where integrated models might prove useful (i) impact assessment of new technologies in dairy production and marketing. (ii) impact of livestock on the sustainability and improvement of crop livestock systems (including the impacts of manure management strategies, draught animal use and crop residue utilisation). (iii) impacts of changes in feed resource use, particularly in determining approaches for matching supply an demand. Attention was drawn to the need for proper and realistic assessments of data availability and an appropriate strategy for model validation.
Partners: International Livestock Research Institute.
Funded by: ILRI Core.
Status: Completed, September 1998.
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