AAco Adjusted Average Seasonal Index (AASI)
for dryland or non-irrigated grazing properties.
AAco's cattle production is affected by seasonal circumstances arising from a combination of factors, with four key indicators providing the best guide. They are: rainfall, feed bulk, feed protein levels, and stock water supply.
Rainfall alone is not always a good indicator of the well-being of our business. For example, feed quality on some northern stations is actually enhanced by slightly lower rain which provides higher protein from lower feed bulk. Further, unseasonable rainfall may reduce feed protein levels.
As understanding our season and its effects is not a simple business and there is a danger that performance expectations may be based on simplistic interpretations of published rainfall, we expect the AASI will be a better guide.
For some years as a management information tool, AAco internally has produced the monthly AASI based on an estimation of these four indicators, as compared with what is normal for that particular month.
The index ranges from 0 to 100, with results from 40 to 60 broadly indicating an average season.
Notes on computation of the index:
|
Components |
May 08 |
Apr 08 |
Mar 08 |
|
Rainfall (seasonally adjusted) |
8.0 |
6.6 |
8.9 |
|
Feed bulk (broadly defined) |
10.0 |
11.5 |
12.7 |
|
Protein (actual available from feed) |
9.4 |
10.9 |
12.1 |
|
Stock water supply (natural and man made) |
13.0 |
13.5 |
14.2 |
AAco Adjusted Average Seasonal Index (Click HERE to view)
Where a component reflects the expected average for the time of year, its score is 12.5. If all components are at the expected average for the time of year, the AASI will be 50. A higher score reflects an improvement over expected long-term average seasonal conditions for that time of year.
Data from all AAco's grazing operations are weighted using the average carrying capacity for each property to derive an overall AAco Monthly Weighted Average AASI.
This overall index is intended to provide a good proxy by which to assess the production capability of AAco during the relevant year. Results are published on AAco's website quarterly.
