Cybernetical strategy for optimal farming: on the growth of Caiman Crocodilus Yacare

• Published in: Kybernetes Vol. 26; no. 2-3; pp. 304 - 313
• Main Authors: Engel, Alejandro B, Bassanezi, Rodney C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01-01-1997
• Subjects: Computer simulation; Farms; Finance; Marketing
• ISSN: 0368-492X

Presents an optimal strategy for managing crocodile farms. The strategy is illustrated with the case study of Caiman Crocodilus Yacare of the farm Coocrijapan. However, the strategy can be easily transferred to other farms, once sufficient data on their own crocodile stock is gathered. The main advantage of the ideas developed is that they deal with just one parameter: the break-even point of the process. The underlying assumption of having a single parameter is that there is no seasonal change in prices; that is, the unitary price of food (say, per kilogram) and the unitary price of crocodile hide (say, per square centimetre) remain approximately constant in some currency. This may or may not be true in the local currency of the country that hosts the farm. With this assumption, dimensionless quantities for profit and return are found.