Options analysis improves beef enterprise performance, profitability and technology adoption in central Queensland

Abstract

Successful technology transfer and the implementation of improved practices for livestock breeding, pasture development and livestock marketing have resulted from whole-of-enterprise modelling and financial analysis. Beef producers are able to identify opportunities for improving enterprise profitability, evaluate financial outcomes of options and confidently implement practices once they have had a learning experience which demonstrates, by simulation, the profitability and affordability of the innovation. Herd models are used to compute performance indicators/ benchmarks for comparing "with and without change" options while action learning groups identify opportunities and cash flow budgets determine the financial feasibility of options. A number of case studies are presented.