Effect of income objective on the forage-livestock balance of sheep production in the Tibet autonomous region

Forage-livestock balance is the basis for the sustainability of animal husbandry and for the health of grassland ecosystems in the Tibet autonomous region. Thus, the present study used two economic income objectives for raising livestock to estimate the forage-livestock balance between two neighboring counties (Namling County, in the YNL River Region, and Shenza County, in the northern Tibetan Plateau) and to propose optimal feasibility plan for achieving forage-livestock balance in the Tibet autonomous region. The results indicated that livestock number will increase if the objective of husbandry is economic gain and will, otherwise, remain stable. Meanwhile, regardless of objective, both counties experienced a shortage in forage supplies from 2015 to 2017. Indeed, Namling and Shenza County experienced forage supply shortages of 140 500 ～166 500 tons and 73 900 ～96 700 tons, respectively, when maintaining livestock number and shortages of 293 500～328 900 tons and 226 700～257 000 tons, respectively, when maximizing economic income. The feasibility plan proposed for balancing forage supply and livestock demand involves the establishment of pasture silage maize (Zea mays), oat (Avena sativa), and alfalfa (Medicago sativa). To maximize economic income in Namling County and to maintain livestock number in Shenza County, the counties should reduce sheep number by 69 700～116 000 and 128 000～167 500, respectively, or increase alfalfa production by 53 400～88 800 tons and 73 900～96 700 tons.