Smart Manager

Summary

As a result of Smart Manager:

Producers have a better awareness of herd performance. In many cases the "truth serum" has been applied.
Producers identify their actual performance rather than their perceived performance.
Producers are taking a more business like approach to their operation.
The main profit drivers for individual herds have been identified.
Producers have benchmarked their own performance and profitability and have been able to compare themselves against group and district benchmarks.

There is a significant variation in the productivity and profitability of individual properties within groups. The key to profitability is not necessarily cutting costs. The project has highlighted the poor level of record keeping in the industry. The result has been an increase in record keeping and in the use of scales to objectively measure cattle performance. Marketing is being better targeted. Many producers were previously relying on a single market outlet and are now exploring a range of options. Improved supplementation strategies are being used that are cost effective and improve market suitability. Producers have had the opportunity to compare off-farm investment with on-farm investment.