ILCA's policy towards modelling in the framework of livestock systems research; models and the analysis of productivity in extensive livestock systems in Israel; prediction of actual primary production under nitrogen limitation; behavioural aspects of intake at pasture in ruminats; prediction of feed intake in ruminats; relationships between chemical composition and voluntary intake of feeds by sheep and cattle; the effect of breeding season duration on production and feed consumption in grazing beef cattle in the south of Israel; adaptation of the Kahan model for a mixed farming system in southeastern Asia; appraisal of the ILCA cattle herd dynamics model using data from pastoral systems in mali and kenya; moddeling pastoral livestock production: problems and prospect; analysis of management impact in semi-arid agropastoral systems; modelling economic outcomes of livestock production systems; selection of sheep husbandy techologies under single and multiple goal constraints; types, purposes and users of models; problems related do intake.

ILCA has been conducting a long-term study on livestock production in central Mali since the beginning of 1976. This report presents results based on data collected over a 6-year period from 1978 to mid-1984. In part I the livestock production systems in the zone, management practices and herd and flock demography are described. Cattle and small ruminant productivity is discussed in detail in parts II and III and recommendations based on the results of the studies are given in part IV.

Improvement of the world's livestock industry necessitates input from many directions. Planning by a host of national and international agencies is required in order to provide optimal stimulus in very diverse areas ranging from formulation of laws and incentives that stimulate competition yet prevent undue competition, to the optimal provision of credit. Planning is needed to carry out a complex array of interrelated research. The purpose of this book is specifically tasked with setting forth frameworks and methods for evaluation of investments and associated economic decision-making in the livestock industries of developing countries. Economists will find this book useful because it synthesizes .much material into a cohesive whole--material that is often presented in a cursory manner or overlooked as emphasis has shifted to sophisticated quantitative techniques.