Dynama+

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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Entering data in Dynama+

Start with the AECalc sheet then move to the Prices sheet followed by the Huscosts sheet and then the Assets sheet before entering data in the Dynama sheet. The sheets have been linked by formulae to assist data entry and transfer between sheets if this sequence is followed.

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+

Commercial beef enterprise managers using Dynama+ can enter actual livestock numbers, asset values, liabilities, prices and budget figures 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 from another source if needed.

Figure 1 - Import Breedcow

Figure 2 - Import All found on the Dynama page

insert transfer explanation / diagram

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.