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(i) Prepare a stock reconciliation. Enter
opening, closing, sale and purchase numbers and
values.
(ii) Construct the feed
budget using the reconciliation numbers (opening numbers may be
imported into the feed budget directly) using the breeding timelines
as neccessary for the timing of events that dictate feed intakes
levels.
Identify the effective grazing area
available throughout the year and relevant pasture growth data for
your location. Pasture data are often available from publications,
research centres, consultants or monitoring programmes for specific
districts. There may be considerable differences however due to
soil fertility levels and pasture species.
Build the feed budget to target
desired pasture covers at key times of the year (e.g. 1400-1500 kg
DM/ha feed cover for lambing/calving, higher levels for feed
conservation etc). Typical average feed covers range between 1000 -
2000 kg DM/ha maintaining high feed quality as far as possible. This
range may be exceeded when feed control becomes more difficult
during periods of high pasture growth and lower covers can be
expected if feed reserves are cleaned out in the winter or prolonged
dry conditions are experienced.
(iii) Amend stock numbers to best
utilise feed supplies and optimise the production system using
the graphs for this purpose. Review the stock reconciliation to
improve financial outcomes. Refer to the financial report to
identify the change in the farm cash position on
livestock.
(iv) Use "save as" to create separate
feed budget and stock reconciliation data files for
comparison.
(v) Throughout the year monitor actual pasture covers for
comparison with targets. Use this comparison to review buying and
selling and production targets.
(vi) For paddock grazing plans enter
paddock names, areas and covers into the paddock database. This
information may also be entered using the mapping module.
Create short term grazing plans from the intake and grazing plan
screens including supplementary feeds and an assessment of feed
costs.
For step by step guidelines see the help screens.
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