PASTOR: a technical coefficient generator for pasture and livestock systems in the Humid Tropics; version 2.0
This document is a users guide to the expert system PASTOR (PASture and livestock technical coefficient generatOR), version 2.0. PASTOR generates technical coefficients (TCs) for cattle systems in the humid tropics, using the target-oriented approach. Three components of a cattle system are defined, for which TCs are generated separately by individual models: Animal Production Systems at a defined Technology (APSTs), PASture systems at a defined Technology (PASTs) and Feed Acquisition Systems at a defined Technology (FASTs; feed supplements). For APSTs, separate models exist for cattle breeding and cattle fattening systems. For PASTs separate models exists for fertilised pastures with a user-defined soil nutrient balance and for unfertilised pastures with an 'open' soil nutrient balance. Technical coefficients are inputs and outputs of production systems, such as production (pasture yield, meat, milk), costs, labour use, soil nutrient balances, nutrient losses to the environment and pesticide use. PASTOR was especially developed for cattle livestock systems in the humid tropics using the Northern Atlantic Zone (NAZ) in Costa Rica as case-study. However, the system was set in a generic manner so that, by adapting input files, users can make PASTOR suitable to other environments. Listings of all PASTOR data files are included in the appendices to document current and possible alternative beef production systems in the NAZ of Costa Rica as described and developed by REPOSA.
Main Authors: | , , |
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Format: | biblioteca |
Published: |
Jun
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Subjects: | GANADO DE CARNE, SISTEMAS DE PRODUCCION, PASTIZALES, SOSTENIBILIDAD, SISTEMAS EXPERTOS, PASTOR (SISTEMA EXPERTO), TROPICOS HUMEDOS, COSTA RICA, |
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Summary: | This document is a users guide to the expert system PASTOR (PASture and livestock technical coefficient generatOR), version 2.0. PASTOR generates technical coefficients (TCs) for cattle systems in the humid tropics, using the target-oriented approach. Three components of a cattle system are defined, for which TCs are generated separately by individual models: Animal Production Systems at a defined Technology (APSTs), PASture systems at a defined Technology (PASTs) and Feed Acquisition Systems at a defined Technology (FASTs; feed supplements). For APSTs, separate models exist for cattle breeding and cattle fattening systems. For PASTs separate models exists for fertilised pastures with a user-defined soil nutrient balance and for unfertilised pastures with an 'open' soil nutrient balance. Technical coefficients are inputs and outputs of production systems, such as production (pasture yield, meat, milk), costs, labour use, soil nutrient balances, nutrient losses to the environment and pesticide use. PASTOR was especially developed for cattle livestock systems in the humid tropics using the Northern Atlantic Zone (NAZ) in Costa Rica as case-study. However, the system was set in a generic manner so that, by adapting input files, users can make PASTOR suitable to other environments. Listings of all PASTOR data files are included in the appendices to document current and possible alternative beef production systems in the NAZ of Costa Rica as described and developed by REPOSA. |
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