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The [Breedcow and Dynama] software is used to assess choices for the management of beef cattle herds run under extensive conditions. It is not an accounting package or a paddock records package and does not record individual animals. It presents budgeting processes, adapted to the special needs of extensive beef producers. Breedcow and Dynama programs are based on four budgeting processes:
- Comparing the likely profitability of the herd under different management or turnoff systems. (Breedcow+ program)
- Making forward projections of stock numbers, sales, cash flow, net income, debt and net worth. (Dynama+ program)
- Deciding what to sell when the plan goes sour or what to buy when there is an opportunity. (Bullocks, Dry Cattle Trading and Cowtrade programs)
- Evaluating investments in herd or property improvement to determine the rate of return on extra capital, the number of years to breakeven and the peak debt. (Investan program)
In short, Breedcowplus is a steady state herd model that generates its own structure around a starting number of weaner heifers retained and Dynama+ program is a ten year herd budgeting program that usually starts with the current herd numbers and structure. The term “herd budgeting” is used to emphasise the central role of herd dynamics in cattle enterprise budgeting.
Breedcow and Dynama - Software overview
The Breedcow and Dynama software comprises of two main programs, Breedcow+ and Dynama+. Each of these is made up of components. There are also a number of stand-alone programs. Each program and its components are described below.
Breedcow+
The Breedcow+ program contains Prices, AECalc, Huscosts and Breedcow as separate worksheets sheets that can be used to record the detail of how sale prices, husbandry costs or adult equivalents have been calculated.
The Breedcow+ program can quickly determine the best strategies for a beef breeding herd run under extensive conditions. It is a steady state herd model that generates its own structure around a starting number of weaner heifers retained. The overall herd size is adjusted by altering the starting number of weaner heifers and the final herd structure depends on the weaning and death rates chosen and the sales from each age group.
The outputs of the Breedcow+ program are herd structure, herd value, and gross margins.
Dynama+
The Dynama+ program is a ten-year herd budgeting program that usually starts with the current herd numbers and structure. It has a structure similar to the Breedcow+ program with individual worksheets for the calculation of adult equivalents, prices and husbandry costs.
AECalc
The AECalc worksheet in Breedcow+ is an adult equivalents calculator. Adult equivalent ratings are used when comparing herds of differing composition to ensure that ratios such as gross margins (per adult equivalents) are based on the use of the same amount of (forage) resource.
In Dynama+, this sheet can have up to ten years of data entered in each worksheet.
Prices
The Prices worksheet in Breedcow+ calculates net cattle selling prices from estimates of weight, price per kilogram, selling costs (as percentage of value or per head) and freight costs per head. The program also includes a transport cost calculator to help in the estimation of transport costs to alternative destinations. In Dynama+, this sheet can have up to ten years of data entered in each worksheet.
Huscosts
The Huscosts worksheet in Breedcow+ can be used to store the detail of assumptions made concerning the treatment and other costs incurred by the various classes of livestock included in the model.
In Dynama+, this worksheet stores the annual average variable costs of the beef enterprise by classes of livestock.
Breedcow
The Breedcow worksheet in Breedcow+ collects the various inputs from the AECalc, Prices and Huscosts sheets then allows users to complete the herd model by adding information about weaning rates, losses, total adult equivalents and the variable costs incurred by the management strategy under consideration. Once all of the variables have been entered a herd structure and gross margin are produced.
Dynama
Dynama is a worksheet within Dynama+. It projects carryover cattle numbers for each year based on starting numbers, expected weaning rates, death rates and sales. It tracks herd structure and growth, cash flow, debt, net income and net worth for up to ten years.
Investan
Investan is an investment analysis program that compares scenarios developed in the Dynama+ program starting with the same herd and asset structure, but with one Dynama+ scenario involving additional investment or income sacrifice to implement a program of change. Investan calculates the net present value (NPV) and internal rate of return (IRR) for the "change" option relative to "without change" or "business as usual".
Stand-alone programs
Bullocks, Cowtrade and Splitsal are separate programs to Breedcow+ and Dynama+ and have no direct linkages to either program.
Bullocks
The Bullocks program focuses on selecting the most profitable turnover cattle but it may be also used to evaluate forced sales options or whether to keep the slow steers until they finish or sell them early.
Cowtrade
The Cowtrade program is often used when seasons and prices are out of line with long term expectations. It can be used to set sales priorities when drought or financial crisis requires abnormal sales or when deciding how far to sell into the heifers after pregnancy diagnosis. Cowtrade can also be used to assess breeder purchase options.
Splitsal
Splitsal is a program to provide estimates of numbers (and average weights) above and below a certain cut-off weight, when mob average weight and range of weights are known. This can be used for male turnoff over two seasons or for estimating numbers and weights from the tail or lead of a group of heifers or steers.