> ## Knowledge Base Index
> Fetch the complete knowledge base index at: https://help.creatures.com/sitemap.xml
> Use this file to discover available pages before exploring further.
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# The management balance sheet

The **Management balance sheet** groups animal values by their intended use so you can compare what is recorded with what the animals may be worth today. It is a planning view, not a tax or formal financial statement.

## Read the table

Open the Finance dashboard and choose **Management balance sheet**. Select the correct record set if you manage more than one.

![Management balance sheet grouped by intended use with book value, management value, delta, and count](https://cdn-test.creatures.com/3c8/237/968/f057a.png?width=1760)

Rows are grouped by intended use: **Market**, **Breeding**, **Service**, **Dairy**, **Draft**, **Sporting**, **Pet**, or **Unknown**. The columns mean:

- **Book value** is the recorded value still carried for the animals in that group.
- **Management value** uses a manual management value or an eligible **Crestimate**, Creatures' data-based estimate of current market value, when one exists, then uses book value as the fallback.
- **Delta** is management value minus book value. A positive amount is not saved profit, and a negative amount is not a completed loss.
- **Count** is the number of animals included in the row.

The total row adds the visible groups. Turn on **Show inactive** only when you want formerly owned, deceased, or otherwise inactive animals included in the review.

## Improve an incomplete view

Choose **Inventory valuation** to inspect the animals behind the totals. There you can see which animals use a manual value, a Crestimate, recorded cost, or no current estimate.

![Inventory valuation rows showing the source used for each animal's management value](https://cdn-test.creatures.com/f5d/05b/8ca/5bd27.png?width=1760)

If an animal is in the wrong group, update its setup details and intended use. If its current value is missing or stale, set a management value or refresh an eligible Crestimate. If its historical starting figure is missing, review cost basis separately.

## Keep the boundary clear

Changing a management value affects this planning view and the estimated value on the simple dashboard. It does not rewrite saved income, expenses, opening balances, depreciation, or tax basis. Similarly, the Delta column does not create a transaction.

Use this page for questions such as “How much of our current animal value is in breeding stock?” or “Where is estimated value most different from recorded value?” Use Accounting Review and the year-end exports for formal book and tax work.

If you plan to use an estimate as an opening book value, select the eligible animal in Inventory valuation and use the review button. Creatures asks for the source and dates before anything is recorded.

### Related information

- [Understanding your finance dashboard](https://help.creatures.com/en/article/understanding-your-finance-dashboard-mgppma/)
- [Reviewing and updating your animal values](https://help.creatures.com/en/article/reviewing-and-updating-your-animal-values-1k7sfah/)
- [Animal cost basis and starting values](https://help.creatures.com/en/article/animal-cost-basis-and-starting-values-1n6gzse/)