Year: 2009
Type: article
Abstract: Grazing management practice is a central component in Australian pasture-based dairy systems and is largely based on application of tacit rules.This approach often conflicts with the quantitative decision making promoted in the scientific community.The development of pasture measurement and software tools have historically had a minimal or short-term influence on grazing management practice across the industry.The potential role of objective data in dairy farm management was examined using a five month, 18 dairy farm, trial of satellite-derived pasture data as a case study.The findings showed that when assessing sources of pasture data farmers looked at the accuracy and timeliness of data, in addition to the fit of data within existing information networks and its impact on uncertainty in planning.A tension existed between the grazing management approaches farmers preferred (simple, cost-effective, and fitting with their routines and goals) and the scientific worldview (objectivity and structured decision making) of those developing new means of gathering pasture data.To avoid continued underutilisation, future development of pasture measurement tools needs to provide greater consideration to the processes used by dairy farmers.
Authors: Eastwood, C., Kenny, S.
Language: English
Subfield: Agronomy and Crop Science
Domain: Life Sciences
SDG: Zero hunger
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2249248017