The program contains five modules and one utility. Look at the flow chart below
for an overview.
Records
This module provides the format for entering the information required to evaluate
the production and financial management of a cow-calf herd. Information is
entered either on a herd basis or an individual cow basis.
The four GOLD production indicators (growth, open cows, length of the calving
season and death loss of calves) are compared with district, regional or
provincial values and industry benchmarks. This module also evaluates these
indicators for strengths and weaknesses and identifies opportunities for
improvement.
You can use this module to combine individual cow record files from previous years
and calculate the Most Probable Producing Ability values for lifetime productivity
and biological efficiency for each cow presently in your herd.
This module provides you with a quick method for balancing or checking beef
rations. It calculates the nutrient values of the rations based on the amount of
each feed selected. You are able to calculate feedstuffs and animal productivity and make decisions that could result in lower feed costs. This module is based on the 1996 NRC beef formulas.
Through this module you can examine the feed costs per pound of gain, total cost
per pound of gain, net return and breakeven price for various methods of adding
value to the calf.
