@conference {41037,
	title = {A participatory evaluation of out-of-season beef cattle finishing systems in the lower North Island.},
	booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	volume = {58},
	year = {1998},
	month = {Jan},
	pages = {231-235},
	publisher = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	organization = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	abstract = {Beef cattle slaughter in New Zealand continues to be strongly seasonal, despite various initiatives by meat processing companies to alter the pattern of supply of cattle for slaughter. The farmer{\textquoteleft}s perspective of out-of-season (OOS) production systems (August -October supply) and the biological and financial feasibility of these was investigated through a participatory approach to farm system modelling. Three case farms were modelled using STOCKPOL and alternative cattle policies that provided a greater proportion of cattle for slaughter in OOS and shoulder (November - December and June - July) months were investigated with the farmers. Even with premiums 20\% above schedule, farmers were unwillings to change policies to OOS. They were concerned about increased business risk, poorer feed quality, increased pasture pugging, greater workload over the busy lambing/calving period, poorer overall suitability to the property and conflict with personal preference. They were more receptive to policies that would increase shoulder production and this factor combined with off-farm improvements in technology for delivering fresh products to overseas destinations may be sufficient to gain new or greater access to high value markets. },
	issn = {1176-5283},
	author = {Sherlock TJ and Parker WJ}
}
