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Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
The Forage-SAFE model has been developed to better
understand the impact of trees on the profitability of wood
pastures. It assesses the daily balance between the demand
for and production of forage to estimate an annual farm net
margin. The model allows the modification of selected
biophysical and financial parameters related to the tree,
pasture and livestock components (such as tree cover
density, carrying capacity and livestock species) which can
be optimised to maximise net farm income. A case study in
a dehesa wood pasture in South-western Spain was used to
show the applicability of the model. The case study results
showed that net margin was maximised at around 27% tree
cover for a carrying capacity of 0.4 livestock unit per
hectare from which 61% were ruminants and 39% Iberian
pigs. The analysis also showed that high carrying
capacities were positively correlated with tree cover
profitability. This was accentuated as the proportion of
Iberian pigs increased
Description
Keywords
Forage-SAFE wood pasture tree cover bio-economic profitability