PASTORAL SYSTEMS

Using traditional methods, resource assessments are often too difficult and time consuming, and carry the risk of misleading results. This is due to the lack of account of the complex and inter- related nature of forage supply and livestock forage requirements, typical of most farms and pastoral systems... In order to carry out my work, I created RAPS software as a tool to aid managerial, policy and development decisions, primarily by analysing land and forage resources for their productivity and livestock support capacity, taking system complexity into account... Professional specialisation has focused on integrated grassland/livestock survey; assessment of livestock carrying capacity; evaluation of development options; grassland development and fodder production; livestock grazing management; environmental impact assessment within pastoral environments, and; emergency relief assessment, pastoral and agricultural components.