If there are two constants in Australian livestock farming, they would be one, the external environment is constantly changing, be it changing weather, economic conditions, consumer preferences or farming practices, and two, producers are constantly challenged to sustainably and economically maximise outputs for the highest possible price.
With the Bureau of Meteorology forecasting a change back to drier climatic conditions from May onwards, livestock prices continuing to cool from record highs and inflation driving uncertainty in domestic and export markets, it looks like we are in for more external change in the short to medium term.
Despite this, the producers challenge remains the same. How do I navigate the external environment to sustainably and economically maximise returns in my operation?
Although the way that each producer goes about managing their operation may differ greatly, they all have the same goal of producing their best livestock year-in year-out regardless of price. For many producers, this involves continually improving their production systems to sustainably get more out of available resources and making the right decisions to drive greater return on investment.
In most cases, greater return on investment can be determined by increasing the quality and quantity of outputs. MLA’s weekly saleyard market reports are frequently discussing the quality of lines of cattle and sheep offered, where well finished lines receive greater interest from buyers and generally sell for much higher prices. Despite this, benchmarking studies continually show that increasing quantity is by far the largest driver of return on investment, where a marginal increase in the number of animals sold can significantly boost business revenue.
Effective livestock nutrition can assist with finishing livestock and decreasing loss throughout winter, maximising the number of high-quality animals offered for sale. However, mineral supplementation is only one part of effective nutrition. The AusFarm Nutrition team is here to assist producers in getting the most out of their production systems regardless of what the external environment may present.
This newsletter comprises of articles about seasonally significant metabolic diseases, production opportunities and general nutritional advice that may assist producers in growing their best animals this winter. Please read articles that are relevant to your business and contact our team if you have any questions.
