Beef business tools

Here are a range of tools to help you make informed business and production decisions relating to your beef enterprise.

All tools are provided as downloadable Microsoft Excel files. The input data contained in the tools is not specific to any particular situation and serves only to show where data is entered. You must input relevant data to get useful responses.

By using these tools you are agreeing to the terms and conditions.

Cattle marketing ready reckoner

This ready reckoner spreadsheet allows you to compare the economics of different selling options such as saleyards, abattoir and paddock. Download the Cattle marketing ready reckoner (XLS, 62KB).

Feedlot or feeding evaluation

This worksheet can be used to evaluate the margins involved in feeding cattle in the paddock or putting them into a feedlot. If entering quotes for custom feedlotting, be careful to use all ‘as fed’ or ‘dry matter’ figures for feed prices and intakes. Download the Cattle feeding margin calculator (XLS, 852KB).

Sell or feed stock

This worksheet estimates and compares the costs of feeding stock to selling and buying back. It also gives a breakeven sale price required to cover feeding costs. It does not account for changes in pasture productivity associated with either option. Download the Sell or feed stock worksheet (XLS, 871KB).

Comparing feeds – costing energy and protein

This spreadsheet allows you to compare supplements and feeds on the cost of energy and protein. Enabling macros allows the feeds to be sorted on highest to lowest costs. This is only a start for comparing feeds and many other factors need consideration to best meet your needs. Download the Comparing feeds spreadsheet (XLS, 190KB).

If you would like more information, or have any questions, about these spreadsheets please contact Roger Sneath, Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Toowoomba on 13 25 23 (cost of a local call within Queensland) or 07 3404 6999 or email roger.sneath@daf.qld.gov.au.

Forage calculators

These three spreadsheets contain the example, that is ‘constructed’, gross margins presented in the ‘Feeding forages in the Fitzroy: a guide to profitable beef production in the Fitzroy River catchment’ report (PDF, 3.06MB). They can be used to test alternative scenarios based on individual property production and input figures.

1. Central Queensland Brigalow forage gross margins (XLS, 567KB)
2. Central Queensland Open Downs forage gross margins (XLS, 569KB)
3. South Queensland Brigalow forage gross margins (XLS, 568KB)

If you would like more information, or have any questions, about these spreadsheets please contact Dr Maree Bowen, Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Rockhampton on 13 25 23 (cost of a local call within Queensland) or 07 3404 6999 or email maree.bowen@daf.qld.gov.au.