Livestock Record and Management Tools

by Russell Tronstad & Trent Teegerstrom

tronstad@ag.arizona.edu520-621-2425

The University of ArizonaThe University of ArizonaDept. of Agricultural and Dept. of Agricultural and

Resource EconomicsResource Economics

Three Legs Supporting Cow-Calf Three Legs Supporting Cow-Calf IndustryIndustry

Animal

Range

Economics

Economic Example: RestockingEconomic Example: Restocking

• • Biological ProductivityBiological Productivity•• Market PricesMarket Prices•• Initial Cattle NumbersInitial Cattle Numbers• • Carrying Capacity of RangeCarrying Capacity of Range• • Financial Situation of RanchFinancial Situation of Ranch

Biological ProductivityBiological Productivity

Market PricesMarket Prices

Capital AvailableCapital Available

Initial HerdInitial HerdBiological ProductivityBiological Productivity

Market PricesMarket Prices

Restocking PathRestocking Path

Grazing CapacityGrazing Capacity

Cumulative ReturnsCumulative Returns

Monthly Cash Flow Summary Total Cash Income & Expenses

$0

$10,000

$20,000

$30,000

$40,000

$50,000

$60,000

$70,000

Jan. Feb.March

April May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec.

Months

($)

Cash Inflow Cash Outflow

Herd Planning-- Multi-Year Restocking Path (5 yrs)-- 20-year returns in current dollars-- Available AUYs

Multiyear Budgets-- Cash production and management costs

Ranch Investments-- Amortization of assets.

Herd Evaluator Worksheet Herd Evaluator Worksheet

Cash Flow Analysis Net Cash Position Chart Balance Sheet

-- Change in owners equity.

Herd Production Costs and Returns

-- Net Farm Income-- Break-Even Values

Short Ranch Finance Sheet Short Ranch Finance Sheet

Ranch Planning/Decision Analysis -- evaluation of supplementation.-- early weaning versus drylot

Diagnostic Tree Analysis-- total ranch and per exposed cow

Herd Productivity by Age Cohort-- category available to lump cows together if ages are unknown.

Ranch Analysis Worksheet Ranch Analysis Worksheet

Overall ObjectivesOverall Objectives

-- critical control -- critical control point analysispoint analysis

-- identify economic -- identify economic problem areas!! problem areas!!

Livestock Livestock Records:Records:

Goods records are Goods records are signals for where signals for where protocols/practices protocols/practices need to be altered need to be altered or kept the same. or kept the same.

Livestock RecordsWorkbook: Hard copy pencil recordsExcel spreadsheet: electronically record on

own computerOnline Records: user password protected

account. + Financial Records+ Pasture Records / Animal

Movements+ Animal Events

livestockrecords.arizona.edu

Financial Ledger

Purchase Supplies

Modify Categories

Livestock Events

Association Report

Define Pastures

Assign to Pastures

Livestock RecordsNeed Accurate Records from finances, range, and animal to make good management decisions.Livestock Feed Assistance Programs.AGR-Lite: Gross Revenue Based Insurance

+ premiums subsidized about 50%+ 5 years of Schedule F tax returns+ revenues and not higher expenses