How to manage Livestock Codes in Farm Focus

Why Manage Livestock Codes?

Livestock codes in Farm Focus allow you to track important data like stock numbers, breeding, and yields for accurate farm management. Correctly setting up these codes ensures meaningful livestock reconciliation and production reports, helping you make informed decisions about your farm's performance.

Benefits of Managing Livestock Codes

• Helps track and report livestock information accurately.

• Ensures proper categorisation for reconciliation and reporting.

• Allows better control over stock management, including sales and purchases.

• Helps with budgeting by automatically calculating settlement delays.

Steps to Manage Livestock Codes

• Set Type as Stock

  • This ensures the livestock category feeds into your livestock reconciliation.

  • A Mirror Section setting will appear, allowing you to use one category for both stock class sales and purchases (e.g., buying and selling deer).

  • Set the Mirror Section to the opposite of the original section (e.g., if you add a code under INCOME, set the Mirror Section to PURCHASES).

• Set Settlement Delay

  • If you record sales and purchases with a settlement delay, Farm Focus will automatically calculate the payment date based on the transaction's payment date.

  • This is important for budgeting if the delay crosses over into a new month.

  • You can set the delay to 0 days or adjust it as needed.

• Stock Units in NZ or System in Australia

  • • New Zealand

  • Stock Units (SU) help calculate feed demand for different livestock species and age groups.

  • A Stock Unit represents the feed needed for a 55kg ewe rearing a single lamb.

  • Use SU to monitor the level of stock per hectare in your reports.

    • Australia

  • Dry Sheep Equivalents (DSE), Adult Equivalents (AE), Large Stock Units (LSU) and Livestock Units (LU) are used to estimate feed demand and stocking dates.

  • Select the livestock system appropriate to your farm.

• Age to

  • This setting defines how livestock age for tax purposes.

  • All livestock are assumed to age up at the end of the financial year, affecting stock numbers and taxable profit.

• Set Breeding Status

  • Choose the appropriate breeding status for your stock:

    • Breeding (primary breeding stock).

    • Secondary Breeding (young, first-time breeders).

    • Progeny (animals born on the farm, e.g., lambs or calves).

    • None (non-breeding animals like rams or steers).

• Set Default Unit of Measure

  • Choose between Carcass Weight or Live Weight as the default unit.

  • This setting can be overridden when coding invoices and helps analyse the efficiency of your livestock.

• Set Yield Percentage

  • The Yield % determines the proportion of live weight yielded after processing at the meat works.

  • You can adjust this percentage based on breed-specific characteristics or use industry standard figures.

How to Add a Livestock Category

Go to Settings > Codes > Farm Codes.

1. Click the three vertical dots in the appropriate section (e.g., INCOME or PURCHASES).

2. Select New Category and enter the code (e.g., "D" for Deer).

3. Name the category (e.g., "Deer").

4. Choose the appropriate GST type (likely Business).

5. Set the Type to Stock.

6. Optionally, select a tag and assign a KPI Reporting Group for reports.

7. Click Done to save.

How to Add a Livestock Extended Code

1. In the Farm Codes section, click the three vertical dots next to the category (e.g., "Deer").

2. Select Extended Code and enter the shortened name (e.g., "F" for Fawn).

3. Set the Type to Stock.

4. Fill in additional details:

   • Settlement Delay

   • Stock Units

   • Age to

   • Breeding Status

   • Default Unit of Measure

   • Yield %

5. Select a KPI Reporting Group.

6. Click Done to save.

Stock Units and Carcass Weight Yields

• Stock Units (SU) are calculated for each species and age group to track feed demand.

• Carcass Weight Yields:

  • Sheep:

    • MA Ewes: 39%

    • 2ths Ewes: 44%

    • Lambs: 44%

  • Cattle:

    • MA Cows: 49%

    • R2 Heifers: 54%

    • R1 Steers: 54%

Adjust these figures based on breed-specific information or industry standards.