Scientific models in GrazPlan applications

Overview of the GrazPlan models

The GrazPlan suite of Decision Support tools are software applications designed to work on desktop and laptop computers. They work on Microsoft Windows machines. Some of the applications also work on Mac OSX and Linux.

MetAccess makes it easy to examine the historical climate and summarise the probabilities and long term weather.

GrazFeed is principally a computer version of the Australian Ruminant Feeding Standards and is targeted at producers and advisors.

GrassGro is designed to analyse management of sheep and beef grazing systems. It is targeted at skilled producers and advisors.

AusFarm is a multi-enterprise modelling tool that is primarily designed for researchers to model mixed farming systems.

 

 

 

MetAccess

GrazFeed

GrassGro

AusFarm

 

Publications

Published descriptions of GrazPlan models:

Donnelly, J.R., A.D. Moore, & M. Freer (1997). GRAZPLAN: Decision support systems for Australian grazing enterprises. I. Overview of the GRAZPLAN project and a description of the MetAccess and LambAlive DSS. Agricultural Systems 54, 57-76.

Freer, M., A.D. Moore, & J.R. Donnelly (1997). GRAZPLAN: Decision support systems for Australian grazing enterprises. II. The animal biology model for feed intake, production and reproduction and the GrazFeed DSS. Agricultural Systems 54, 77-126.

Moore, A.D., J.R. Donnelly & M. Freer (1997). GRAZPLAN: Decision support systems for Australian grazing enterprises. III. Pasture growth and soil moisture submodels and the GrassGro DSS. Agricultural Systems 55, 535-582.

At ResearchGate

Coming soon! – Descriptions of the revised models

  • Pasture growth model
  • Ruminant biology model
  • Soil water balance
  • Validations

Published validations

Bolger TP & Moore AD (1998). Extending the pasture model in the GRAZPLAN decision support system to evaluate management practices for maintaining improved pastures. Final Report to the Meat and Livestock Authority. Project CS 230. CSIRO Plant Industry, Canberra. 47 pp.

Clark SG, Donnelly JR & Moore AD (2000). The GrassGro decision support tool: its effectiveness in simulating pasture and animal production and value in determining research priorities. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 40, 247-256.

Cohen RDH, Stevens JP, Moore AD & Donnelly JR (2003). Validating and using the GrassGro decision support tool for a mixed grass/legume pasture. Canadian Journal of Animal Science 83, 171-182.

Donnelly, J.R., Salmon, L. Cohen, R.D.H., Liu, ZL. and Xin, XP. (2005). Decision support for temperate grasslands – challenges and pitfalls. In Utilisation of grasslands in temperate animal systems. Ed. Murphy J.J.. Proceedings of a satellite workshop of the Twentieth International Grasslands Congress, Corkt1:city>, Ireland: 105-117

Donnelly, J.R., Simpson, R.J., Salmon, L., Moore, A.D., Freer, M. and Dove, H. (2002) Forage-livestock models for the Australian livestock industry. In. Agricultural System models in Field Research and Technology Transfer. (Chapter 2), (Eds. Ahuja, L.R., Ma, L. and Howell, T.A.) pp. 9-32, CRC Press/Lewis Publishing.

Donnelly JR, Moore AD & Freer M (1995). Calibrating, implementing and validating GRAZPLAN decision support systems for grazing enterprises throughout southern Australia. Report to Australian Wool Research and Promotion Organisation-project CIC 38. CSIRO Division of Plant Industry, Canberra. 30 pp.

Moore AD (1996) Computer simulation of beef and sheep production in research and on-farm trials in south-western Western Australia. Report to the Western Australian Department of Agriculture. Meat Research Corporation Project DAW.046, CSIRO Plant Industry, Canberra. 36 pp.

Moore AD, Freer M & Donnelly JR (1994). Calibration of the GRAZPLAN pasture growth model for ryegrass-subterranean clover pastures. Prime Lamb Program Systems Studies. Interim Report to the Meat Research Corporation Project CS223. CSIRO Plant Industry, Canberra. 9 pp.

Salmon, L. 2002 Evolution of the GRAZPLAN decision support tools and adoption by the grazing industry in temperate Australia. Agricultural Systems 74:115 Short, R., Salama,R., Pollock, D., Hatton, T., Bond, W., Paydar, Z., Cresswell, H., Gilfedder, M., Moore, A., Simpson, R., Salmon, L., Stefanski, A., Probert, M., Huth, N., Gaydon, D. and Keating, B. Coram J. and Please P. (editors), (2000) Assessment of Salinity Management Options for Lake Warden Catchments, Esperance, WA:Groundwater and Crop Water Balance Modelling. Bureau of Rural Sciences, Canberra, National Land and Water Resources Audit. Theme 2 – Dryland Salinity, Project 3 – Catchment Groundwater Modelling and Water Balance, CSIRO Land and Water, Technical Report 20/00.

Stauffacher, M., Bond, W., Bradford, A., Coram, J., Dawes, W., Gilfedder, M., Huth, N., Keating, B., Moore, A., Paydar, Z., Probert, M., Salmon, L., Simpson, Stefanski, A.. and Walker, G. (2000). Assessment of Salinity Management Options for Wanilla Catchment, Eyre Peninsula:Groundwater and Farming Systems Water Balance Modelling. CSIRO Land & Water, Canberra, Bureau of Rural Sciences, Canberra, CSIRO Technical Report 1/00

Simpson RJ, Salmon L, Burbidge, Donnelly JR & Moore AD (2001). Farm systems for your environment. Proc. Grassland Soc. Vic. Annual Conf. Mt Gambier. Simpson, R.J., Salmon, L., Moore, A.D., Donnelly, J.R. and Freer, M. (2001) Towards a common advisory toolkit for managing temperate grazing systems. Proceedings of the 10th Australian Agronomy Conference, Hobart. www.regional.org.au/au/asa/2001/