Elements and Performance Criteria
- Determine feasibility of livestock enterprise
- Assess farm environment parameters for their suitability for a range of livestock species
- Assess potential livestock enterprises for their market potential and gross margin returns
- Identify resource requirements
- Identify production risks and strategies to address them
- Select livestock species and breeds/ genetics to suit the production system and the market
- Identify and define determinants of livestock profitability
- Define production objectives
- Establish strategies for herd/flock sourcing and improvement and determine breeding program as appropriate
- Determine feed requirements for each age/sex/category of herds/flocks
- Determine feeding strategy including grazing management, where appropriate, and develop feeding programs for each livestock category
- Develop health management program to manage/prevent disease in each herd/flock
- Establish environmental controls as required
- Establish livestock production targets and prepare production plan
- Review production plans to determine input and service requirement
- Plan logistical arrangements related to harvesting, transportation and marketing and other key operations for the production cycle
- Establish schedules for the purchase of inputs and services used in production
- Establish appropriate physical and financial record keeping system to provide data for the analysis of livestock production performance
- Review production plan