A new modeling environment for integrated dairy systems management

Authors: KEBREAB, ERMIAS - UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, DAVIS; REED, KRISTAN - CORNELL UNIVERSITY; CABRERA, VICTOR - UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN; Vadas, Peter; THOMA, GREG - UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS; TRICARICO, JUAN - DAIRY MANAGEMENT, INC.

Submitted to: Animal Frontiers
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/15/2019
Publication Date: 3/30/2019
Citation: Kebreab, E., Reed, K.F., Cabrera, V.E., Vadas, P.A., Thoma, G., Tricarico, J.M. 2019. A new modeling environment for integrated dairy systems management. Animal Frontiers. volume 9, Issue 2, Pages 25-32.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/af/vfz004

Interpretive Summary: A systems approach to understand the nature of interactions among the different elements of the food and agricultural system can be used to increase farm efficiency, resilience, and sustainability. We are developing a next-generation dairy farm systems model that will fill a major gap in available tools to help develop dairy systems for sustainable food production, environmental quality, water and nutrient use efficiency, and energy efficiency and production. It will provide new information about managing dairy production at a whole-farm level instead of optimizing single farm operations. The model will help scientists better inform farmers, practitioners, and industry and policy leaders on the environmental and economic impacts of adding, removing, or changing one or multiple dairy farm practices. The model will follow high-standards for logical, transparent, and organized code as well as detailed, standardized documentation to produce a model with potential for widespread use and impact.

Technical Abstract: A systems approach to understand the nature of interactions among the different elements of the food and agricultural system can be used to increase farm efficiency, resilience, and sustainability. The application and integration of data sciences, software tools, and systems models can also advance management of the food and agricultural system. We are developing a next-generation dairy farm systems model that will fill a major gap in available tools to advance the frontier of knowledge in developing dairy systems for sustainable food production, environmental quality, water and nutrient use efficiency, and energy efficiency and production. It will provide novel information to the scientific community about managing dairy production at a farm-systems level instead of optimizing single farm operations. The model will also help scientists better inform farmers, practitioners, and industry and policy leaders on the environmental and economic impacts of adding, removing, or changing one or multiple dairy farm practices. Rigorous adherence to high-standards for logical, transparent, and organized code-base with detailed, standardized documentation will demonstrate modern and effective modular-systems model development and produce a model with potential for widespread use and impact.