Due to an increase in competitiveness in the primary sector, there as been a higher need to compare farms and to make bench marking. This process will allow the construction of a database that compares processes and practices of well established companies in the market.
With the ALLTECH model it is possible to manage, measure and compare farms based on productivity and longevity of animals. In addition, ALLTECH has joined the portable NIR system. This NIR system measures the various feed components using infrared radiation, helping to more accurately monitor the farm's feed and its impact on farm turnover. These economic evaluation models have been used on dairy farms but can easily be used on beef farms as well.
With the increased competition in the primary sector, farmers have now the need to evolve themselves and the economic evaluation models can help them figure out how they can improve their productivity by comparing several other farms with their own. Plus, the farm's feed is one of the pillars that holds the productivity of the animals there for, there has been always a need to improve its monitoring.
Some main benefits or opportunities might arise to the farm. This system will allow making quick feed adjustments making the performance of the animals more uniform and paired with the expected performance. In addition, it will also help to monitor the feed efficiency in its energy component. And also, control production costs directly in protein sources with the ALLTECH protein efficiency program. The key success factor in the implementation process is through the monitoring of food, which is a key factor for a better turnover. It also makes possible the identification of the farm history and the definition of objectives with clear goals. These tools also allow us to develop sustainable economic models, based both on productivity and animal health. This study shows that by weighting the calves it is possible to monitor the progress of this method.
Three aspects are quite relevant during the implementation process:
1- Sharing economic knowledge will help farms to develop at a higher rate.
2- Monitoring the feed should be one of the first concerns when trying to increase productivity.
3- Technology is more and more accessible and should be implemented where there is more lack of it, that is, in the field.
The impact of this innovation can mainly be at the socio-economic resilience level as by increasing food effectiveness, the final turnover will be improved. But also on production efficiency. The weight increases at weaning and the increased quality of the replacement heifers, in crossbreeding farms; and in pure breeding farms, we will get animals with greater quality, quality increase that will also include a higher sales price for its genetic value.
Source: Revista Ruminantes, 2017 (Portuguese Journal) https://revista-ruminantes.com/