beef production lec 11 and 12

Question 1

what is profit

Answer 1

revenue - cost

Question 2

how long does a bull last

Answer 2

2-3 years

Question 3

what are overheads

Answer 3

• electricity, rates

* costs that will continue regardless of production

Question 4

what are the 4 main costs in production

Answer 4

pasture, animal, fixed and loans (rent, depreciation)

Question 5

what is market compliance

Answer 5

 market compliance

• identify most profitable markets

Question 6

how do you increase profit

Answer 6

 want to increase kg/yr and price

Question 7

what is the biggest driver of profitability

Answer 7

 SR biggest drive of profitability

• match SR to feed supply

Question 8

how does soil moisture limit production

Answer 8

• soil moisture
o rainfall
o limits feed supply

Question 9

what is CoP

Answer 9

 Cost of Production
• cost to produce 1 kg
• ideally around $1

Question 10

what are 7 managements that affect profit

Answer 10

CoP
SR
fertility 
herd structure
production system
nutrition 
genetics

Question 11

how does SR impact profit

Answer 11

 Stocking rate
• many producers understocked (all/some of year)
• individual animal performance
o increase production/ha not /animal

Question 12

how does herd structure impact profit

Answer 12

 Herd Structure
• genetic rate of change with younger herd
• influence on fertility

Question 13

how does production system impact profit

Answer 13

 Production system – time of calving

• autumn calving has a higher SR

Question 14

how does nutrition management impact profit

Answer 14

 Nutrition management

• avoid sup feeding=cost

Question 15

define SR

Answer 15

• number of livestock on a paddock or a whole farm
• number of a particular type of animal per unit area.
  o usually (DSE) per hectare (ha) or cattle per unit area

Question 16

what is the DSE of a weaner

Answer 16

approx 6

Question 17

what is the DSE of a yearling

Answer 17

8

Question 18

what is the DSE of a dry cow

Answer 18

7

Question 19

what is the DSE of a preg cow last 4 months

Answer 19

9

Question 20

what is the DSE of a cow with a 0-3 month old and 4-6 month old calf

Answer 20

15 and 17

Question 21

what is the top producers SR for mid winter

Answer 21

12 DSE/ha

Question 22

how much can be produced per 100mm rain

Answer 22

top producers 43kg/ha/100mm rain

average can produce 31kg/ha/100mm rain

Question 23

what is RoC

Answer 23

• return on capital
  for how much they have spent how much are you making off it
• aim 6%

Question 24

what is the target for pregnancy rate

Answer 24

• Target 96% pregnancy

o 90% good

Question 25

what is the target for calving span

Answer 25

- Tight calving span and concentrated pattern (9wks max, with 60% in first 3wks)

Question 26

when should a heifer calve

Answer 26

2 years

Question 27

what is the impact of pregnancy rate on calves

Answer 27

o lower PR= more late calvers | o high PR= more calves born from first cycle

Question 28

what is the impact of calving date on profit

Answer 28

- calving date o lower calving interval = increased weight of calf o late cow is consistently late

Question 29

what is the negatives of having an older herd structure

Answer 29

``` - Older cows generally: o Poor average growth rates o younger herds are changing in value rapidly- better genetics o increased risk of health problems  higher risk of grass tetany ```

Question 30

what is the target herd structure

Answer 30

- Target o Max 4-6yrs Old cows, cull older o Use cull cows as source of income rather than heifers.

Question 31

what are the targets of a production system

Answer 31

- Match pasture growth/quality with animal requirements - Peak pasture production = lactation/joining/calf growth MATCH SUPPLY AND DEMAND

Question 32

what is the affect of the age of the animal at sale

Answer 32

- Affects herd structure and SR o Requirements for rapid growth per animal will mean less animals - Keeping sale animals to heavier weights, generally is more profitable o if utilising available feed

Question 33

how does nutritional management affect profit

Answer 33

- Influences income o Sale stock – price discounts for not meeting market specs o Replacement stock – heifers not meeting CMW - Costs o Supplementary feeding only when a profit o Set nutrition/animal condition targets

Question 34

how does genetics impact profit

Answer 34

``` Genetics - Sets the production limits. - Buy GOOD BULLS o Use EBV’s - Cross-breeding o Growth + fertility + whole of life gains in breeding herd ```

Question 35

what are the top producers CoP

Answer 35

- Top 20% of producers o relatively low CoP o Spend more on fixed costs, pasture improvement, less on supplementary feeding

Question 36

what is the difference between economics of scale and SR

Answer 36

- Economy of scale important BUT increasing stocking rates will spread costs over more production units

Question 37

where can the greatest profit be achieved

Answer 37

- profit when CoP decreases AND productivity increases o can’t just chase one o increased labour efficiency significant potential to decrease CoP

Question 38

what BCS will cows be in mid winter to achieve optimal SR

Answer 38

- Increase stocking rate until cow condition mid-winter = 2.5

Question 39

what impacts on $/kg

Answer 39

buyers and market demand

Question 40

what impacts on the weight at sale

Answer 40

age and growth rate

Question 41

what impacts on growth rate

Answer 41

health, genetics, pasture growth, pasture utilisation

Question 42

how is pasture utilisation determined

Answer 42

SR and pasture energy intake

Question 43

what impacts on SR

Answer 43

location, soil fertility plant species soil moisture

Question 44

what impacts the number of cattle sold

Answer 44

calves weaned and cattle

Question 45

what impacts on calves weaned

Answer 45

calves produced, number joined

Question 46

what impacts the number of calves produced

Answer 46

fertility of bull and cow, calf survival, dystocia

Question 47

what impacts fertility

Answer 47

BCS, BSE, health

Question 48

what are the 2 major impacts on no. of females joined

Answer 48

quantity and quality of breeders | no of breeding females

Question 49

what impacts on quantity and quality of breeders

Answer 49

culling rate joining period age of weaning

Question 50

what impacts on no of breeding females

Answer 50

pasture budget calving date target markets