SPA-38
Revised 1-25-06
GUIDE TO
ASSEMBLING DATA FOR COW-CALF
STANDARDIZED
PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS*
DATA NEEDED
Assembling
necessary data for the Cow-Calf Standardized Performance Analysis (SPA) is the
most important step in the SPA analysis process. This article and worksheets will help prepare
data for SPA prior to the consultant's visit or to group workshops to help
complete the SPA analysis. It is also
good for the first time software user to use the worksheets.
This worksheet focuses on the SPA production
data. It is good to use Figure 1 and/or
Figure 2 to get your data organized by spring or fall calving season. Remember that the SPA analysis for the fiscal
year the calves are weaned. For a spring
calving herd, cows are exposed in the proceeding fiscal year (e.g. 2002 spring
calves are from your cows exposed in 2001).
Production Data
The
following production data will be assembled in these pages.
·
General ranch and herd descriptive data
·
The cowherd management/production season
·
Weaned calf production, value and cull or
breeding cattle sales
·
Land use B
both owned and leased
·
Feed use and inventory
·
Breeding cattle inventories, beginning and
ending for fiscal year, purchase and raised
·
Number of breeding females exposed
Specific Cattle Inventories
The
breeding cattle inventory to measure productivity is as follows:
1. End of the fiscal year or at the beginning of
the year, as they are the same.
2. Beginning of the breeding season.
3. When cows are pregnancy tested, record bred
and open.
Definitions
Select definitions accompany each set of forms so
that the user has a clear definition of what data is required.
If users have inventories in other formats they of
course do not have to fill out the forms.
Just insure all the necessary data is complete.
Financial Data
It is best to assemble the business financial data
in the form that it exists, then have the experienced SPA user to assist in
preparing of the data for the SPA analysis.
Your accountant can be of great assistance in preparing necessary
financial data. Listed below is the most
important data needed for the fiscal year, normally the tax year.
For
Fiscal or Tax Year Calves are Weaned:
·
IRS tax schedules especially Schedule F
·
Depreciation schedule
·
Loan payment schedules
·
Financial statements that have been prepared for
the fiscal year business analysis or the lender. Anything is helpful for a starting
point. Statements would include:
- Beginning and ending fiscal year balance
sheet (ending is next years beginning)
- Income statement - accrual adjustments will
be made for the analysis
Sources
for SPA Financial Data:
·
IRS tax schedules for fiscal or tax year of
analysis
- Schedule F - Profit or Loss from Farming
-
Form 4562 - Depreciation and Amortization
- Form 4797 - Sales of Business Property
·
Depreciation schedule for operation
·
Loan payment schedules available from each
lender
·
Beginning and ending balance sheet showing all
business assets and liabilities. The
depreciation schedule has information for depreciable assets
·
Cattle inventories, see next section on
production data
Good
to Have:
·
End of year inventories for cattle and
feed. If there were major differences
between beginning and ending inventories of fuel, vet supplies or other high
cost item record these inventories for development of accrual adjusted income
statements.
·
Enterprise
revenue and expenses if the business accounting system generates enterprise
values. Otherwise, allocation decisions
can be made by the manager when doing SPA from the total financial statement. Use what you have first and then learn if
there can be improvements.
Getting Started Now
It is best to gather up all of your presently
available financial and production information and do the SPA analysis. Nearly all producers can get a good approximation
with existing data. Completing the
analysis will help guide future record keeping to improve accuracy. Do not worry about cattle inventory
valuation. If you are not experienced in
the methodology just get the head numbers by category.
Weaning and Cattle Sales Data For the
Cow-Calf SPA Production Analysis
The Standardized Performance
Analysis (SPA) is production performance measures based on the following
concept:
1.
All breeding females (cows and replacement heifers)
exposed are expected to breed, calve, and wean a calf.
2.
Only cows or replacement heifers taken out of the
exposed females inventory numbers used to calculate performance are:
a.
During breeding season
b Cows not intended to breed or calve as
defined before breeding begins.
b Cows transferred out before breeding
season ends.
b.
Between the end of breeding season and calving
(branding)
b Pregnant females sold or transferred
out.
b Cows with calves (pairs) sold or
transferred out.
3.
Cows that are transferred out after the end of the
breeding season and are not pregnancy tested are assumed to be open and do not
reduce the exposed cow numbers.
4.
Cows that are transferred to the fall herd after being
exposed in the spring herd are counted twice as exposed cows in the same
production year, once in the spring breeding herd and once in the fall herd.
To minimize time
and for the most accurate data, it is very important to record the weaning
numbers, weights, and net calf price at weaning. Form 1 can facilitate this data recording
activity. If you have any question about
dates, it is helpful to fill in the dates in Figure 1. Remember the weaning year should correspond
to the fiscal year (accounting or normally the tax year) of the analysis. Cull sales should be all those sales actually
taking place during the fiscal year.
FORM
1
1. Fiscal Year of Analysis (year calves weaned
in):
Beginning Date Ending Date
2. Farm or Ranch Location: ____________________
State Region
____________________
County Zip Code
3. Business Description:
Business Organization (sole proprietorship,
partnership, or corporation):
Accounting Method (cash or accrual):
4. Precipitation (Inches): _____________________
Normal Annual Fiscal Year Precipitation
5. Type of Enterprise (commercial or seedstock, spring
or fall calving):
6. Management/Production Seasons for Mature
Females (see Figure 1 on page 5 and gestation table):
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Beginning
Date
|
|
Ending
Date
|
|
a) Breeding
|
|
|
|
|
|
b) Pregnancy
Testing
|
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|
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c) Calving
|
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d) Weaning
|
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7. Breeding Season:
Females Exposed: Replacement
Heifers Exposed: ____________
8. Pregnancy Testing:
Total
Number Tested: ________________
Bred: ________________
Open: ________________
9. Size of Herd – Number of Breeding Cows
(At the Beginning of the Fiscal Year):
10. Calving:
Total
Cows Calving: Calves Born (Dead or Alive)
_____Live Calves Born or Marked _____
