28 August 2015
Want to identify options for improving your beef business and estimate future cash flows?
A two-day workshop at Alpha next month will assist producers to model their beef breeding herd and test scenarios to improve profit.
Participants will use the MLA and Queensland Government co-funded software Breedcow Dynama to enter their own cattle numbers together with anticipated sale weights, prices and costs to look at their own opportunities for improvement.
Byrony Daniels, beef extension officer for the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) and one of the workshop tutors, encouraged producers to seize the opportunity to learn how to use these free programs, downloadable from the DAF website.
“Most beef producers already have the basic data and sufficient computer skills to be able to use these programs. We just help them organise their data in the programs so they can look at options,” Byrony said.
“The Breedcow Dynama suite of programs is a great tool to help cattle producers predict the financial and economic impact of changes they might like to make in their herd management.
“The workshop provides the opportunity for beef producers to build a model of their own breeder herd and test some scenarios for change.”
The workshop is an elective of the Grazing Best Management Practices (BMP) program, www.bmpgrazing.com.au chosen by local participants who wanted to improve their business analysis skills.
The BMP program features an online self-assessment tool that helps producers benchmark their current practices against industry-developed standards, verified by a producer reference group, industry experience and scientific research.
Its five modules include grazing land management, animal production, animal welfare, soil health and people and business.
The Alpha workshop is on 8-9 September. For more information or to register for the event please contact Byrony Daniels T: 0427 746 434 or E: byrony.daniels@daf.qld.gov.au or contact DAF’s Customer Service Centre on 13 25 23.
Download the Breedplan Dynama software
