WP6 - Modelling tools to predict outcomes of possible future scenarios

WP leader: Eileen Wall - Scotland's Rural College (SRUC)
Associate WP leader: Vera Eory - SRUC
Involved partners: SRUC, INRA, TEAGASC, FiBL, FA, UDL
​When it comes to farming in Europe, there’s a high variation in farming systems. On top of that, Europe recognizes different environments, e.g. climates, regions. Despite these differences, current national breeding goals are based on an average production system instead of considering availability of local resources, and social and structural differences. 
Objectives
The goal of this WP is to support the development of local breeding goals that take into account the above mentioned differences. For this purpose, tools will be developed that can predict long-term effects of selection and management strategies on animal and farm system resilience and efficiency under different environments. In general, these customized breeding goals will improve efficiency, productivity, and sustainability of the cattle production in Europe. 
​WP 6 will:
  • Create tools that can develop selection and management strategies that consider local conditions in order to optimize resilience and efficiency of milk and meat production
  • Predict the performance of animals and the entire system in different future scenarios.
  • Investigate the environmental, economic, and social sustainability aspects of various beef and dairy production systems in future scenarios.
Tasks
  • ​T6.1 – Predicting lifetime trajectories of beef and dairy cattle
  • T6.2 – Modelling weather effects on growth/production trajectories and key lifetime performance targets in cattle
  • T6.3 – The role of system resilience and efficiency in addressing farm vulnerability to climate change challenges 
PROJECT
WORK PACKAGES