Livestock Systems Model

The LADSS Livestock Systems Model (LSM) is primarily an energetics model and is based on the book Energy and Protein Requirements of Ruminants, AFRC 1993. The model represents homogeneous livestock cohorts within a set of herds, where each herd defines a set of energy requirements such as activity, diet and lactation. Outputs from the model include profiles of energy partitioning, fodder requirement, mortality, purchases and sales.

The LSM is represented as a flow-diagram (right) with herds represented by processes and the movements between herds represented by various connectors. Inputs (eg. replacements), Outputs (eg. Sales) and Decisions (eg. finish or store) are also represented.