G.M. McKEON and W.J. SCATTINI

Abstract

This review evaluates the role of modelling biological and economic processes in farming systems. The quantification of processes in the soil-plant-animal-property system aids both research and management in considering the range of feed sources available. As yet modelling appears to have contributed more to interpretation of research results than to property decision-making.
Areas where modelling is likely to contribute to the integration of feed sources are:
• estimating the reliability of individual feed options
• farm management questions such as 'how to most efficiently use a given forage option withwhat type of animal?'
• allocation of resources with formal mathematical optimising techniques
• effect of variability of weather and prices on enterprise performance
• simulation of farm development under variable conditions.
Several areas which may limit the usefulness of modelling, e.g. botanical change and compensatory liveweight gain, are discussed.