Dynama+

Summary

The Dynama+ program uses the current herd structure and numbers as a starting point to plot the likely future cash flow, profit and debt servicing capacity of a dynamic cattle enterprise. The program can model changes in herd structure, financial and economic performance in ten year blocks.

The Dynama+ program starts with actual stock numbers on hand to develop its budgets. This is very unlike the “steady state” imagined in Breedcow+ program.

The program calculates expected herd numbers for each annual period based on the expected brandings, deaths and sales within the period and calculates herd cash flow. The outputs are based on the expectation of future prices and animal performance provided by the manager of the enterprise.

Dynama+ is therefore used to consider the capacity of a beef cattle herd to manage debt, undertake development or recover from a sudden production or economic shock. It is commonly used to either prepare a budget for current operations or consider the implementation of change over time.

The Dynama+ program is comprised of six core worksheets - Growth Path, AECalc, Prices, Huscosts, Assets and Dynama. Each worksheet can be accessed by clicking on the tabs at the top of the web page.

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Using the Dynama+ program

The program is located with the [Breedcow and Dynama Software], within the Tools tab, which can be accessed after registering or logging in to use the free software.

• A new scenario can be created by clicking the Save button beside a blank yellow name bar and can be named by typing in the yellow bar. This scenario or previously created scenarios can be edited by clicking the Open button.
• To open an example scenario click the Copy button beside the example scenario and it will be copied into your scenario list where it can be opened as your own scenario.
• A scenario can be shared with another user by clicking the Share button then entering in the email address for the user you wish to share it with. Note that this must be the email they have used to register their account with at https://breedcowdynama.com.au. Once sent the shared scenario will appear in the recipient's scenarios list for the relevant program.

Dynama+ scenario list

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Entering data in Dynama+

The Dynama+ program is comprised of the Growth Path, AECalc, Prices, Huscosts, Assets, Dynama and Monthly Cash Flow worksheets. Each worksheet is accessed by clicking on the tab at the top of the web page.

Entering data in the worksheets is best undertaken in the following order:

Step 1. Growth Path

Step 2. AECalc

Step 3. Prices

Step 4. Huscosts

Step 5. Assets

Step 6. Dynama

The “Name” areas at the top of each worksheet are for users to identify worksheet data files.

Each worksheet also has a Note Pad or Memo Page in which more detailed information, such as supplement costing or cattle freight calculations, can be recorded.

Dynama+ can be readily set up with values by importing data from a Breedcow+ file.

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Importing and using Breedcow+ data in Dynama+

Users can enter actual livestock numbers, asset values, liabilities, prices and budget figures in Dynama+ to start off the process. Entering targets and data already developed in Breedcow+ can speed this process up.

Using a Breedcow+ analysis as starting data for cattle numbers, production parameters, prices and husbandry costs provides an efficient starting point and actual cattle numbers can be “overtyped” in the first year of the Dynama+ livestock model to closely match numbers and sales to the initial cash flow.

Use the Import Breedcow function to import Breedcow+ data into Dynama+.

Data for the AECalc, Prices, Huscosts and Dynama pages can be transferred from separate Breedcow+ files if desired or the Import All function found on the Dynama page can be used to import one lot of data from a Breedcow+ file into the program.

Using the Import Herd and Import Autosales function on the Dynama worksheet allows a basic herd structure and production targets to be imported into Dynama+. Fixed costs and balance sheet values will have to be added manually, if required.

Figure 1 - Import Breedcow

Figure 2 - Import All found on the Dynama page

Indeed, the whole 10 year budget can be run off Breedcow+'s data, since the end point of the Dynama herd, i.e. year 10, can also be transferred from a Breedcow+ file using the Import AutoSales button found on the Dynama page. The transferred AutoSales values determine annual sales in the Dynama+ herd schedule such that herd structure converges on that represented in the Breedcow+ file.

If the Breedcow file used for AutoSales is the same as used to define the starting point, the result will be 10 years of stable state in Dynama+. Otherwise it will be a transition from the starting stable state to the end point stable state. Since the formula driven sales numbers can be overridden, the transition can usually be helped along by altering sales where required. If production parameters, prices and variable costs differ from year 1 and year 10, these values must also be phased over time from year 1 to year 10 values.

Users can benefit from modelling the intended end point in Breedcow+ and importing that data from Breedcow+ using the Import AutoSales button on the Dynama page. This is infinitely faster than making individual entries for each group of cattle for each year. Once AutoSales are in place, sales can still be changed manually – the difference is that you may need to change only two or three entries for each year, and perhaps not even for all the years.

Modelling change in Breedcow+ is only the first step – it tells us if the change is profitable once it has been implemented. The next thing we need to know is how the transition from one system to another affects cash flow and debt service. A run of Dynama+ files, using file transfers from Breedcow+ to speed things up, can provide this information.

Menu options are provided in the Dynama+ program to import part or all of the data from a Breedcow+ file into any or all of the Dynama+ worksheets. The data can be inserted in the first or last year of the Dynama+ file. Data transferred to the final year will be used as the end point of a manual transition from starting data to end data.

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For more detailed explanation on the principles behind the Dynama+ program and its assumptions go to Dynama+ assumptions.

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