Effect of forage alternatives on the carbon footprint, productivity, and profitability of sheep production systems in dryland Mediterranean zone of Chile: A simulation model

Abstract

Context

Climate change has reduced rangeland production and constrained sheep production in Chile's Mediterranean region. This article presents a simulation model to evaluate new forage alternatives and their effects on current small-farm sheep systems.

Objective

The objective was to determine how the inclusion of new forage alternatives and associated management modifications affect the carbon footprint (CF), productivity, and profitability of sheep production systems.

Methods

Survey and field data were used to develop a simulation model that seeks to balance energy and protein nutrition in response to variations in stocking rates, supplementation rates, and pasture management in comparison with the base scenario. Outputs include sheep production, CF, and economic analyses of various factorial combinations.

Results and conclusions

In the basal scenario, the carbon footprint (CF) was 9.57 ± 0.45 kg CO2-eq/kg live weight (LW) when soil carbon (C) sequestration was not considered. However, it decreased to 6.7 ± 0.49 when accounting for soil C sequestration. Although financial income was negative, operational income was positive due to the undervaluation of the grassland contribution. The use of triticale grain resulted in the lowest CF, but in economic terms, alfalfa hay outperformed all supplements. It is important to recognize the value of native grasslands if traditional systems are to persist.

Significance

In the context of current land use practices and economic conditions, the simulation model revealed a limited range of available tools to increase technical efficiency and minimize carbon footprint (CF) when the native grasslands are not valued. The model is well-suited to explore alternative scenarios under variable economic conditions and can provide valuable insights to inform policy decisions.