Goat Cost of Production tool re-design and re-development

Summary

MLA recently completed a research project, "Online Tools Research" E.IFL.1401 which reviewed the current suite of online decision-support tools). This project resulted in the development of a comprehensive strategic framework including a range of practical recommendations on how to improve consistency and user-friendliness of the existing tools, ensure accessibility across a range of online devices, and plan for integration and compatibility of future tools that are yet to be developed.

A goat industry Cost of Production tool was developed through project B.GOA.0095 "Development of web-based cost of production tools"in an excel spreadsheet format, ready for transition to an online format. MLA commenced this project to realise the visions described in the strategic framework devised through E.IFl.1404 to address identified critical technical and usability issues across the tools and in this case, specifically the Cost of Production tool for goats. As part of this project the user interface of the Goat Cost of Production tool was re-designed and re-develop in a different, "lighter" format (Html5 / JavaScript and related technologies) to enable access from a broader range of online devices including tablets and smartphones.

Producers are now able to store and retrieve their past data, create multiple scenarios and access information entered across multiple tools, achieving a more personalised user experience. The tool was developed in conjunction with the redesign and redevelopment of the Beef and Sheep Cost of Production tools, enabling producers to gain a whole-of-farm view of CoP, across multiple enterprises.

The project has been completed and the tool is now available on the MLA website.