Record what changes decisions
At minimum capture opening animals, purchases, births, deaths, feed, water, treatments, labour, production, sales, rejects and closing animals.
Avoid false profit
Include family labour, depreciation, finance, transport, unsold output, mortality, utilities, waste, veterinary cost and owner withdrawals. Revenue is not profit and accounting profit is not cash.
Core indicators
- Mortality and survival
- Feed per unit of output
- Average growth or production
- Cost per saleable unit
- Break-even selling price
- Gross margin and cash runway
- Buyer payment days and rejected output
Review by cycle or month
Compare actual against budget, identify the largest variance and assign one corrective action with an owner and deadline.