Category: Articles & Publications

AI has been generating a lot of discussion lately, not just Artificial Intelligence (an oxymoron?) but also Artificial Insemination for breeding herds. We’ve had a number of clients implement an Artificial Insemination program with their heifers so, to get an understanding of the economics of the option, we analysed their data from the exercise.The costs are far easier to quantify than the benefits associated with undertaking an AI program. The total cost will include the price of anything additional and necessary for the AI program to take place. This includes, semen straws, semen transportation and storage, preg-test pre-AI, syncing of heifers, AI technician, and additional labour (e.g. additional musters, extra time in yards). Theoretically, AI enables rapid dissemination of superior genetics, allowing producers to make faster progress in their breeding programs…

To properly analyse long term financial data, inflation needs to removed from the data to understand changes in real terms, which reflect the changes in purchasing power over time. We’ve updated our long-term analysis of the Queensland cattle market to include March data (to 25/3/24). This is shown in the graph below, which shows an index of Queensland cattle prices in real terms over the last 38 years. The coloured bands are the percentile ranges for the preceding 20 years. Queensland cattle prices are currently sitting at the 46th percentile of 20yr prices. While prices today do seem low relative to the high seen in December 2021, since which time they have dropped 47% in real terms, the cattle market has been lower than the current level for nearly half…

In the Bush AgriBusiness December newsletter, we wrote about the importance of going beyond information to knowledge and application. We think this is a very relevant topic for anyone who has done a Business EDGE workshop, whether recently or in the distant past.We acknowledge that attending the two-day workshop is a big commitment of time, effort, and money and we intend to return more value to you than it cost to be there. But the workshop packs a lot into two days and we wonder if you were able to apply as much of the information as you’d hoped, once you got home.If you are looking for some suggested places to start or are ready to have another go, here are some suggested questions to ask yourself:Do I have a…

At the Bush AgriBusiness Combined Group meeting in Toowoomba recently, we introduced the Grazing Business Management Framework which we have been working on to extend our services and support to family businesses.Working with family grazing businesses is a large and rewarding part of what we do at Bush AgriBusiness. Over the years we have developed a deep understanding of the complex production systems and unique challenges faced by family businesses due to the overlapping dynamics of relationships, ownership, and management. These complexities and challenges are heightened through price, market, and weather cycles. In short, there is a lot to manage and stay on top of which can feel like juggling and keeping lots of balls in the air all at once.Some of the questions raised by family businesses include: How do we…

We live in an information age where a quick Google search, request to Siri, or chat on an AI platform can get us almost immediate “bites” or snippets of information. There is certainly no lack of information available, but as farm business management and succession specialist, Mike Stephens highlighted in his review of the 2023 Australian Beef Report, “Farm Business managers don’t need information, they need knowledge which gives confidence to make timely management decisions.”What is the difference?Information is organised data obtained from various sources put together in a meaningful way. Knowledge is an understanding of the subject that comes from experience or education. Information combined with experience and intuition, results in knowledge.The Australian Beef Report is prepared by Bush AgriBusiness as an independent, triennial publication for profit-focused beef producers and industry stakeholders. At first glance, it…

Efficiency is a critical factor in modern agriculture. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the livestock industry, where optimising resource use is essential for economic and environmental sustainability. Feed efficiency is gaining more and more traction and for some cattle producers, it is now a central concern. The term refers to the amount of feed required to produce a given amount of beef. In other words, how effectively can cattle convert grass into beef? Thus, it can also be referred to as productivity which is maximising beef production from a given feed resource.We think the critical question with regard to feed efficiency is; should the focus be on selecting for productive herds or feed efficient animals? There has been a lot of research done in this area and we will draw on that research…

We are pleased to announce the release of the 2023 Australian Beef Report. Understanding, and identifying ways to improve, the financial and production performance of family-owned beef businesses in Australia is essential for profit focused producers, industry service professionals, and other industry stakeholders alike. The 2023 version of the triennial Australian Beef Report comes off the back of three years of exceptional markets and seasonal conditions across much of Australia and combined with the 2017 and 2020 reports provides the best long-term picture of beef business performance available. There are three important components of the 2023 Australian Beef Report Pastoral Panel chapter The Pastoral Panel chapter was a popular feature in the 2020 edition and again captures the intellectual capital of wise heads in the industry, providing insights into how…

We have recently added Top Studs to the Bush AgriBusiness stable of high-quality, independent publications.The Managing for Herd Fertility and Profitability chapter in the Australian Beef Report and Top Studs have been prepared separately, but are complementary and there is value in reading both publications together. There is the opportunity to combine Top Studs with your 2023 Australian Beef Report purchase to receive a $49 discount. More information on the 2023 Australian Beef Report can be found here.In this article featured in Beef Central, Ian explains why choosing where to source bulls is one of the most important decisions commercial breeding businesses make and how Top Studs is designed to help.To buy your copy or to find out more, head to the Top Studs page on our website.

At Bush AgriBusiness, we work with a number of producer groups of between 5-8 family businesses. The types of businesses in a group range from commercial breeding to seedstock producers to those running a feedlot operation.Most of our producer groups are located within a region and meet 3-4 times a year, primarily at each other’s properties. We also conduct one group benchmarking meeting per year which is where we really unpack the business performance and allow for some frank and honest conversions about “the story behind the numbers” and how they can be used to inform business decisions.When you become a member of one of our groups, you join a mini-community of like-minded peers who share their experiences and knowledge to help each other succeed. Our group members have access…

Are you lacking the motivation to unpack the numbers in your business? Do you need to brush up on your financial skills? Would you like a refresher on some of the key metrics you can use to measure business performance? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then consider attending a Business EDGE workshop! We have just two Business EDGE workshops remaining in 2023. Brisbane, November 29-30 Biloela, December 5-6 Business EDGE workshops are a two-day workshop focussed on understanding the ‘business side’ of your operation. We cover everything from economic sustainability and acquiring financial literacy, to measuring whole business and herd performance, and everything in between. If you have previously completed a Business EDGE workshop, we now invite you to book a check-in to discuss any assistance…