A Decision Support System for Economically Sustainable Sheep and Goat Farming
The European sheep and goat sector is characterized by low professionalization and management training. Moreover, it is fragmented in terms of production aims and farming systems. Here, iSAGEDSS, a web-based application allowing dairy and meat small ruminant farmers in different countries to make an...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2020-12-01
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| Series: | Animals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/10/12/2421 |
| _version_ | 1797544372408942592 |
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| author | Sotiria Vouraki Ioannis Skourtis Konstantinos Psichos Wendy Jones Carol Davis Marion Johnson Leticia Riaguas Rupérez Alexandros Theodoridis Georgios Arsenos |
| author_facet | Sotiria Vouraki Ioannis Skourtis Konstantinos Psichos Wendy Jones Carol Davis Marion Johnson Leticia Riaguas Rupérez Alexandros Theodoridis Georgios Arsenos |
| author_sort | Sotiria Vouraki |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The European sheep and goat sector is characterized by low professionalization and management training. Moreover, it is fragmented in terms of production aims and farming systems. Here, iSAGEDSS, a web-based application allowing dairy and meat small ruminant farmers in different countries to make annual management plans by testing future scenarios, is presented. Data were obtained for the meat sheep (United Kingdom and Spain), dairy sheep (France and Greece) and dairy goat production systems (Greece) from partners of the Innovation for Sustainable Sheep and Goat Production in Europe (iSAGE) project. These were used to set default values and ranges for all important farm parameters in each system and country. An algorithm was developed assessing nutritional management and its impact on production and financial performance. Reports focus on profitability, productivity and environmental sustainability. A case study in three dairy sheep farms in Greece was performed. In each case, an evaluation scenario was created using actual farm data that were compared with the estimated ones. Two scenarios testing management decisions for gross margin maximization and milk pricing fluctuations were created. Application results showed high prediction accuracy for gross margin and production estimation (error of circa 9% and 4%, respectively). Moreover, the ability to promote financial, production and grazing management efficiency was demonstrated. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T13:59:32Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-dcfbbe7b4ea24ab281ab75d7d01f6135 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T13:59:32Z |
| publishDate | 2020-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-dcfbbe7b4ea24ab281ab75d7d01f61352023-11-21T01:20:33ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152020-12-011012242110.3390/ani10122421A Decision Support System for Economically Sustainable Sheep and Goat FarmingSotiria Vouraki0Ioannis Skourtis1Konstantinos Psichos2Wendy Jones3Carol Davis4Marion Johnson5Leticia Riaguas Rupérez6Alexandros Theodoridis7Georgios Arsenos8Laboratory of Animal Husbandry, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University, 54124 Thessaloniki, GreeceIntegrated Information Technology and Digital Communication, 11525 Athens, GreeceIntegrated Information Technology and Digital Communication, 11525 Athens, GreeceThe Sheep Centre, National Sheep Association, Malvern, Worcestershire WR13 6PH, UKAgriculture and Horticulture Development Board, Kenilworth, Warwickshire CV8 2TL, UKOrganic Research Centre, Trent Lodge, Stroud Rd, Cirencester GL7 6JN, UKOviaragón Pastores Cooperative Group, 50014 Zaragoza, SpainLaboratory of Animal Production Economics, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University, 54124 Thessaloniki, GreeceLaboratory of Animal Husbandry, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University, 54124 Thessaloniki, GreeceThe European sheep and goat sector is characterized by low professionalization and management training. Moreover, it is fragmented in terms of production aims and farming systems. Here, iSAGEDSS, a web-based application allowing dairy and meat small ruminant farmers in different countries to make annual management plans by testing future scenarios, is presented. Data were obtained for the meat sheep (United Kingdom and Spain), dairy sheep (France and Greece) and dairy goat production systems (Greece) from partners of the Innovation for Sustainable Sheep and Goat Production in Europe (iSAGE) project. These were used to set default values and ranges for all important farm parameters in each system and country. An algorithm was developed assessing nutritional management and its impact on production and financial performance. Reports focus on profitability, productivity and environmental sustainability. A case study in three dairy sheep farms in Greece was performed. In each case, an evaluation scenario was created using actual farm data that were compared with the estimated ones. Two scenarios testing management decisions for gross margin maximization and milk pricing fluctuations were created. Application results showed high prediction accuracy for gross margin and production estimation (error of circa 9% and 4%, respectively). Moreover, the ability to promote financial, production and grazing management efficiency was demonstrated.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/10/12/2421sheepgoatmanagementefficiencyproduction systemsdecision support |
| spellingShingle | Sotiria Vouraki Ioannis Skourtis Konstantinos Psichos Wendy Jones Carol Davis Marion Johnson Leticia Riaguas Rupérez Alexandros Theodoridis Georgios Arsenos A Decision Support System for Economically Sustainable Sheep and Goat Farming Animals sheep goat management efficiency production systems decision support |
| title | A Decision Support System for Economically Sustainable Sheep and Goat Farming |
| title_full | A Decision Support System for Economically Sustainable Sheep and Goat Farming |
| title_fullStr | A Decision Support System for Economically Sustainable Sheep and Goat Farming |
| title_full_unstemmed | A Decision Support System for Economically Sustainable Sheep and Goat Farming |
| title_short | A Decision Support System for Economically Sustainable Sheep and Goat Farming |
| title_sort | decision support system for economically sustainable sheep and goat farming |
| topic | sheep goat management efficiency production systems decision support |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/10/12/2421 |
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