Modelling Mortality and Reproduction Rates for Management of Sheep Flocks in Northern Australia

摘要: By quantifying the effects of climatic variability in sheep grazing lands north western and Queensland, key biological rates mortality reproduction can be predicted for sheep. These are essential components a decision support package which prove useful management tool producers, especially if they easily obtain necessary predictors. When sub-models GRAZPLAN ruminant biology process model were re-parameterised from Queensland data along with an empirical equation predicting probability ewes mating added, pregnancy well (86% variation explained). Predicting was less successful but based on relative condition animal (a measure liveweight), status age explained 78% mortalities. A crucial predictor these models liveweight is not often recorded producer properties. Empirical pasture conditions estimated production GRASP, marking Mitchell grass (Astrebla sp.) pastures (81% 63% prediction equations tested against independent properties successfully validated communities.