More efficiency and overview with FeedExpert, feed formulation software for the agricultural sector. To provide good feed advice, at the moment you have to retrieve data from a variety of sources. Laborious, time-consuming, inefficient and inaccurate. Surely there’s a better way?
Ration comparison Practical experience has shown us a number of examples where feed advisors have to retrieve their feed data from a variety of sources. Besides, the time feed advisors spend on this job is enormous. At the same time it’s difficult to draw a good comparison between the rations, because a common starting point is missing Imagine how much time you could save if all data could be stored and retrieved from one place, which could give you a clear ration overview Developing such software takes years of (practical) experience and an expert developer who knows the market and understands what’s needed. This combination is exceptional, ensuring that such a solution cannot be created easily.
The solution you’re looking for as a feed advisor is a user-friendly software program which provides:. A good comparison of rations. Clear graphic displays. A good bond with the client through collaboration Development of feed formulation software This is the basis on which we have developed FeedExpert. The combination of scientific research, practical experience and professional developers means that FeedExpert has evolved to become the world’s best feed formulation software.
Table 1: Ration formulation software evaluated. Company Program Name System Requirementsa,b Program Type ACS Computer Services 10800 Lincoln Heights Hagerstown, MD 21740 Dairy Ration System for Windows (DRSW) Windows 3.1/95/98 Evaluation Least-cost Agri-Data Systems, Inc. 19th Avenue, Suite A-10 Phoenix, AZ 85027 Dairy Ration System II. While this list is not exhaustive, it should provide the reader with a good jump-start into identifying a suitable ration formulation program. 75 Table 1: Ration formulation software evaluated. Program Type. Dairy Ration System for Windows (DRSW) System Requirementsa,b Windows 3.1/95/98. Dairy Ration System II (DRSII) DOS 2.1 or higher.
A reliable and user-friendly dietary calculation program. Features like roughage analysis and milk testing import, ensure ease of use and a clear overview of all given advice.
This lets the agrarian advisor easily draw up individual and tailored dietary advice.
Quick facts Formulating rations provides cows with the nutrients they need to stay healthy and optimize production. The basis of a cow’s diet should be high-quality forage. Acid neutral detergent fiber should be at least 18 percent and neutral detergent fiber at least 28 percent of ration dry matter. Balance rations to meet the nutrient requirements for each stage of lactation. Added fat shouldn’t go above 7 percent of ration dry matter. Include vitamins and minerals to meet the cow’s needs.
You can formulate a ration with the help of a computer or by hand. A computer analysis provides a more complete nutrient profile and includes economics. The ruminant feed pyramid provides the basis for formulating rations.
High-quality forages and grains are the base of all diets and will support good milk production. Added fats, rumen undegradable protein and other feed additives are needed by higher producing cows. The goal of your feeding program should be:. To meet the cow’s nutritional needs while maintaining health.
To optimize milk production, milk fat and milk protein. Accomplished economically. Least cost formulation includes:.
Defining the nutrient needs or constraints for the ration. Finding what feeds need to be combined to meet or exceed these constraints at the lowest cost per pound of dry matter (DM). Least cost formulations change as feed costs change. The computer will often give an opportunity or break-even cost for feeds not used in the ration. It’s thought to be a good buy when the price of an unused feed goes below the opportunity price. In this case, reformulate the ration to see how much of that feed you can now use.
Protein check and considerations:. One pound of crude protein is required to produce 10 pounds of milk. Heat damaged forages will result in less available protein.
Heat damage indicators include:. Forage color is dark brown to black.
Manure is dark colored and dry. Excess rumen undegradable protein in the ration results in:. Lower milk production.
Stiff dry manure. Lower dry matter intake. Excess rumen degradable protein results in:. Low milk production, high early milk peaks with low milk persistency.
High milk urea nitrogen (MUN) levels. Loose manure. Limit urea to 0.4 pounds per cow daily. Select vitamin and mineral recommendation are:.
Salt: Cows need 3 to 4 oz of salt per day. Feed cows one ounce plus 1 ounce for every 25 pounds of milk. Salt should be included in the grain mix at 1 percent. Calcium: more than 150 grams/day or.75 to 1 percent of ration dry matter. One percent with added fat in the diet. Phosphorus: about 100 grams or 0.35 to 0.4 percent of ration dry matter.
Magnesium: 0.3 to 0.4 percent of ration dry matter. Potassium: 1.0 to 1.5 percent of ration dry matter. Vitamin A: 75,000 to 100,000 IU/day. Vitamin D: 25,000 to 30,000 IU/day. Vitamin E: 400 to 600 IU/day.
Nutrition Management Feed bunk management There should be 2 to 5 percent of feed remaining when cows are fed. Lactating cows need 24 inches of bunk space. Close-up and recently fresh cows should have 30 inches of bunk.
If feed is available at all times cows can get by with 18 inches of bunk space. Cows eat best in the grazing positions and the bunk surface should be smooth. Ration Formulation When balancing rations, the reference cow should be at the 75th percentile of the herd. To calculate reference cow, take the average peak milk of older cows and add the daily average of all cows and divide by 2. Example: Bulk tank average - 60 lbs, peak milk older cows - 86 lbs (60 + 86) ÷ 2 = 73 lbs of milk to balance for Two groups: Balance rations at 20 percent above average milk production of each group. Three or more groups: Balance rations at 10 to 15 percent above average milk production of each group.
Water Intake Cows should consume 3 to 5 pounds of water per pound of dry matter consumed. Example: 50 lbs DM intake at 4 lbs of water/lb of milk dry matter intake = 200 lbs of water/day or 200 ÷ 8 lb/gallon = 25 gallons Ration Check All rations should contain at least 1 feed from each category:. Forage. Grains. Protein supplements. Mineral. Salt.