Spreadsheet tools for tactical, short-term decision making in response to, and recovery from, drought

These spreadsheets were developed as part of the Improving profitability and resilience of grazing businesses in Queensland project. Their purpose is to assist livestock producers assess either destocking or restocking options, during drought or disaster response and later recovery.

The presentations demonstrate how to use the spreadsheets to compare options when responding to or recovering from drought or disaster. Producers can enter their own numbers into the spreadsheet while listening to the explanation.

Examples results from using these spreadsheets are also given in the reports for the Central, Central West and Northern Gulf regions.

For drought or disaster response the spreadsheets assess destocking options including ‘sell’, ‘agist’ or ‘feed’, for their effect on future profit and cash flow. All classes of livestock can be considered and compared.

For recovery from drought or other disasters the spreadsheets identify the most efficient options for returning the grazing property to profitable operation. This involves identifying the best way of rebuilding herd/flock structure for optimum profit and resilience given the choices available at the time. Options such as buying replacement stock, buying turnover stock (trading) or taking stock on agistment can be assessed and compared.

• Breedcowplus NQ Gulf example herd (Excel macro free) – Explained in presentation: Assessing options for drought response 2. Situation analysis
• Splitsal early weaning weight range (Excel macro free) – Explained in presentation: Assessing options for drought response 3. Mortality risk and early weaning
• 1 Feed or sell PTIC cows (Excel) – Explained in presentation: Assessing options for drought response 4. Sell, feed or agist PTIC cows
• 2 Agist or sell PTIC cows (Excel) – Explained in presentation: Assessing options for drought response 4. Sell, feed or agist PTIC cows
• 3 Sale steers agistment costs and returns (Excel) – Explained in presentation: Assessing options for drought response 5. Send sale steers to agistment or sell early
• 4 Cowtrade analysis of PTIC drought feeding costs (Excel macro free) – Explained in presentation: Assessing options for drought response 6. Assessing forced sales from within cow, heifer and steer groups
• 4a Cowtrade keep and feed PTIC cows at $150 and sell steers (Excel macro free) – Explained in presentation: Assessing options for drought response 6. Assessing forced sales from within cow, heifer and steer groups
• 4aa Feed or sell PTIC cows 12 weeks feeding cost calculator (Excel) – Explained in presentation: Assessing options for drought response 6. Assessing forced sales from within cow, heifer and steer groups
• 5 Bullocks Sell steers drought response analysis (keep PTIC cows) (Excel macro free) – Explained in presentation: Assessing options for drought response 6. Assessing forced sales from within cow, heifer and steer groups
• 6 Trading yearling steers as recovery strategy (Excel macro free) – Explained in presentation: Assessing options for drought response 8. Options for recovery
• 7 Cowtrade buy PTIC cows as recovery (Excel macro free) – Explained in presentation: Assessing options for drought response 8. Options for recovery
• M4U feeding (Excel)
• Simple feedlot analysis (Excel)

For a copy of the macro-enabled spreadsheets or more information about the project please contact the project leader—Dr Maree Bowen, DPI Rockhampton at maree.bowen@dpi.qld.gov.au.

The project was funded by the Queensland Government’s Drought and Climate Adaptation Program (2017-2021).

Additional information