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An Economic Analysis of Three Brush Management Strategies in the Aspen Parkland. Larade, Shawna*,1, Bork, Edward1, Unterschultz, Jim 1, Bailey, Art 1, Irving, Barry1, 1 University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
ABSTRACT- Cattle production is a primary land use in the Aspen Parkland of Alberta Canada. This poster presentation examines the financial costs and benefits associated with three brush control strategies in pasture management systems. These strategies include intensive land clearing and replacement of native vegetation with introduced pasture mixes, an extensive management treatment using aerial herbicides and prescribed burning and native check areas. The financial feasibility of each management systems are compared using static Net Present Value (NPV) models. The NPV models were designed to quantify the value of each land management strategy in an active cattle production system. The models are based on original production data collected at the University of Alberta Kinsella Research Station for three years in the early nineteen eighties and for the 2005 and 2006 growing seasons. The analysis compares the potential revenues generated over a 10-year period in potential calf sales based on the vegetative productive capacity of each management strategy. It is assumed that the most profitable management system will be that with the highest plant biomass (kg/ha) as higher biomass production will result in a higher stocking rate. Finally, the best management practice is chosen strictly based on the most profitable management system formulated from the NPV models.
KEY WORDS: Net Present Value, Aspen, Brush Management, Economics
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