- - Q. Why do you have a range of agreements?
- - Q. What are the payment systems for these agreements?
- - Q. What are your Guaranteed endweights?
- - Q. How does this money-back Guarantee work?
- - Q. What happens if my animal is not 630 days of age on the 30 April?
- - Q. And what happens if it's 15kg over its target weight for age?
- - Q. Couldn't this lead to a blow-out in cost?
- - Q. How does the Fixed Rate differ from the Full Guarantee?
- - Q. Does the system NOMINATED dictate the amount paid throughout the year?
- - Q. Does this apply for the Flat Rate Weekly system?
- - Q. What's the difference between a 'Liveweight Incentive Fee' and a 'Liveweight Gain Fee'?
- - Q. What system should I nominate for my heifers?
- - Q. I get weight reports now. What's different about your's reports?
- - Q. Can I select the Grazier property my animals are sent to?
- - Q. Will the stock be close to home?
- - Q. Who pays for transporting animals?
- - Q. How do you cope with all the disease control regulations these days?
- - Q. Does that mean I don't have to drench and vaccinate my animals?
- - Q. Do you take any age of stock?
- - Q. How do I know if my stock are being well cared for?
- - Q. Can I see my stock regularly?
- - Q. What happens if my stock are not growing as expected?
- - Q. How are dead or missing animals handled?
- - Q. Does the Company guarantee that all my animals are in calf when they are returned to me?
- - Q. How do your weights compare with others in the industry?
- - Q. What allowance should be made to compare your 630 day heifer weights to an "average calving weight"?
- - Q. Can I remove some or all of my stock before the end of the agreement term?
- - Q. Can the term of my heifers be extended for another month or two after the 30 April when they are due to return?
- - Q. As I am not yet a client, can I inspect stock you are currently looking after before I sign up?
Q. Why do you have a range of agreements?
A. So you can choose one that suits your circumstances. Although most farmers want payment based on weight gain, with guarantees on performance, some still prefer Flat Rate Weekly or Maintenance agreements.Q. What are the payment systems for these agreements?
Flat Weekly Rate - Charge per week.Weight Gain - Charge per kg.
Maintenance - Charge per kg above maintenance cost.
Full Guarantee - Charge per week plus incentive fee per kg above target.
Fixed Rate Guarantee - Same as full, but with a pre-set maximum cost.
Q. What are your Guaranteed endweights?
A. These are the guaranteed endweight (in kg) for heifers that are 21 months of age (ie. on April 30 if born 7 August). The animal's allocated system depends on start weight and nominated system on the agreement.
FRIESIAN
Elite 475
Super 450
Standard 425
Minimum 400
RED BREED
Elite 450
Super 425
Standard 400
Minimum 375
CROSS BRED
Elite 420
Super 400
Standard 375
Minimum 340
JERSEY
Elite 365
Super 345
Standard 325
Minimum 300
Q. How does this money-back Guarantee work?
A. If, for example, you chose a Full Guarantee agreement and had a Friesian heifer allocated to the system, we guarantee to return that animal to you weighing 450kg at 630 days of age on the 30 April. If this animal only weighed 435kg, then you would receive a refund of $38.25, equivalent to $0.74 off your weekly grazing fee (based on a liveweight incentive fee - LIF - of $0.85/kg).Q. What happens if my animal is not 630 days of age on the 30 April?
A. If it was 15kg under its age target, you would still receive the same refund - $38.25.Q. And what happens if it's 15kg over its target weight for age?
A. Then you pay an extra $12.75 in Liveweight Incentive Fees. This provides an incentive to the grazier to try and get all your animals to your Nominated System endweight. Of course, this can depend on their start weight and growth potential.Q. Couldn't this lead to a blow-out in cost?
A. In the early days it could, but we have overcome this in two ways now. We have reduced the LIF so it is a smaller proportion of the total cost, and we have introduced the Fixed Rate Guarantee. But remember, those that choose the Full Guarantee want their animals grown as well as possible and are prepared to pay any extra cost involved (provided it’s still good value).Q. How does the Fixed Rate differ from the Full Guarantee?
A. The Fixed Rate doesn’t charge LIF’s on the nominated system (NS) animals and the total cost can’t be more than the NS weekly rate. So if you nominate Super, with a weekly rate of, say, $7.34 per week and 75% of your animals allocate below Super, the grazier still has an incentive to get these to Super weight (450 kg) but you can’t pay more than $7.34, and you’ll probably pay less.Q. Does the system NOMINATED dictate the amount paid throughout the year?
A. Yes. The total amount due is divided into equal monthly amounts for automatic payment and builds up a credit to pay for any LIF’s owing at the end.Q. Does this apply for the Flat Rate Weekly system?
A. Yes, except with this type of agreement there is no extra fees at the end—but there is no guarantee for performance, either.Q. What's the difference between a 'Liveweight Incentive Fee' and a 'Liveweight Gain Fee'?
A. Both are calculated at the end of the term. The ‘Liveweight Incentive Fee’ only applies for the amount the guaranteed end weight is exceeded whereas the ‘Liveweight Gain Fee’ applies to the difference between the start and end weights and applies only to Weight Gain and Maintenance systems.Q. What system should I nominate for my heifers?
A. For guaranteed systems, our view is you should nominate the highest system you can afford as a weekly rate, since this gives the highest guaranteed end weight on each animal.Q. I get weight reports now. What's different about your's reports?
A. Your current reports probably give only the animal’s weight and average of the mob on the day. Ours correct for age, breed and start weight, and measures each animal against its expected target weight at each weighing, so you know how well they are supposed to be doing all the time.Q. Can I select the Grazier property my animals are sent to?
A. You may indicate a preference to your Service Manager and he/she will endeavor to meet your wishes. However, the Company reserves the right to appoint the Grazier property that best serves the interests of the animals and the Company’s ability to met your requirements.Q. Will the stock be close to home?
A. Where possible we try to keep stock reasonably local. In some cases, where there is better feed available in a neighboring area, we will discuss this with you.Q. Who pays for transporting animals?
A. This cost can be included in your Registration Fee, which covers a unique ear tag, start weighing assessment, set-up costs and most animal health.Q. How do you cope with all the disease control regulations these days?
A. It’s our job to meet the requirements. We do it by knowing where the animals are at all times and keeping records of the TB, EBL, Lepto (and DDT where needed) status of our farms and stock, including bulls.Q. Does that mean I don't have to drench and vaccinate my animals?
A. No. You carry out your normal program up to the time of transport. We check what has been done and take over where you left off with all animal health needs. Special vaccinations and pregnancy diagnosis can be requested at your cost.Q. Do you take any age of stock?
A. We take weaners from 84 days of age through to heifers. We also take Winter Milk replacements and empty Hold-over cows.Q. How do I know if my stock are being well cared for?
A. Our Service Managers supervise Grazier properties regularly. Animals are weighed every 6 to 10 weeks and a comprehensive report is mailed to you. Copies of the same report are also sent to the Grazier and Service Manager. Each animal’s current weight is compared to its expected weight after each weighing and progress is monitored by the Company.Q. Can I see my stock regularly?
A. Yes. You can inspect them, but only by appointment with your Service Manager and with a Company representative.Q. What happens if my stock are not growing as expected?
A. This happens sometimes, and if it does, our Quality Assurance team swings into action. If necessary, we will move stock to another property to achieve this. Having a large pool of graziers to draw on is a big advantage in this situation.Q. How are dead or missing animals handled?
A. In most circumstances (and except Weekly Rate) you will be compensated for any deaths, the amount depending on the type of agreement and how long it’s been with us. You could get both a lump sum and a refund of grazing fees, as well as an advance on any outstanding invoices for that animal (see terms for details).Note: Over the past ten years our loss rate has been between 0.5% and 0.9% against an industry average of around 3%.
Q. Does the Company guarantee that all my animals are in calf when they are returned to me?
A. No. We would like to, but owing to many factors outside the control of both the Company and its Graziers, we can’t. However, the Company buys and/or rears all its own bulls so it has strict control over their quality and compensates for any mis-mating. You have a choice of bull breed or synchronized AB or you can provide your own bulls.Q. How do your weights compare with others in the industry?
A. This Company has always led the industry in its target weights and monitors growth rates closely. Most other Graziers do not encourage the use of scales, or if they do, they do not have the resources to interpret the data effectively. We monitor a heifer’s growth rate like the herd test system monitors a cow’s milk production.Q. What allowance should be made to compare your 630 day heifer weights to an "average calving weight"?
A. Add 60 to 110 kilograms, made up of the following two components, eg.
1. If she calves at 24 months of age (730 days) then during the last 100 days, if she is correctly fed, her uterine content should increase by 40 to 60 kilograms, depending on breed.
2. But remember our 630 day weight is a minimum, so the average animal is likely to weigh a further 20 to 50 kg more, giving a total of between 60 and 110kg more. So expect a Super Friesian to weigh between 500 and 550kg at calving.