Dry Sheep Equivalent Explained
Dry Sheep Equivalent (DSE) is a standard unit frequently used in Australia to compare the feed requirements of different classes of stock or to assess the carrying capacity and potential productivity of a given farm or area of grazing land.
The unit represents the amount of feed required by a two-year-old, 45 kg (some sources state 50 kg) Merino sheep (wether or non-lactating, non-pregnant ewe) to maintain its weight. One DSE is equivalent to 7.60 megajoule (MJ) per day.
The carrying capacity of a farm is commonly determined in Australia by expressing the number of stock carried during a period of feed shortage in terms of their DSEs.[1]
Benchmarking standards used by Grazing for Profit programmes quote that one labour unit (40 hours per week[2]) is required for 6,000 DSE (other benchmarking standards set the figure at 7,000 DSE).[3]
See also
References and notes
- For example see Web site: Gaden . C. A. . J. M. Scott . E. Hall . J. A. Hoad . 2003 . Learning how to increase the profitability and sustainability of grazing enterprises by comparing three different input and grazing management systems . Newsletters . Cicerone Project . 2006-10-18 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20060820151733/http://cicerone.org.au/archives/newsletter27.pdf . 2006-08-20 . . Also Web site: 2003 . Monthly Newsletter – April 2003: Sheep enterprises remain in front of cattle – Farm Benchmarking Results . Newsletters . 8x5 Wool Profit Program . 2006-10-18 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20060904161300/http://www.8x5.com.au/documents/MNLApr2003V1.pdf . 2006-09-04 .
- Web site: Improving labour management for profits. NSW Department of Primary Industries. 18 April 2018.
- Walcha News, 27/3/2003
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