Computer models of forage management on beef cattle farms

A spreadhseet model, SIMPROBE, evaluated alternative feeding sequences for fattening beef steers based on six different forages. This static model is a simplification of a FORTRAN model called PROBE. SIMPROBE calculates forage utilization, liveweight, fatscore, relative sale price and annual gross margin. Management options include sequence of forage use from weaning to selling, area of forages and number of weaners bought. Regressions were established from the output of the FORTRAN simulation model allowing the development of a simplified spreadsheet model for teaching.