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Ration balancing software for sheep
1. Ration balancing
software for sheep
SUSAN SCHOENIAN
Sheep & Goat Specialist
University of Maryland Extension
sschoen@umd.edu - www.sheepandgoat.com
2. Why balance rations?
• To make sure you are meeting the nutritional
requirements of your sheep.
1) Optimize animal performance
2) Prevent nutritional problems
3) Manage feed costs
3. How to balance rations
1 - By hand
• Simple arithmetic
• Pearson square
• Simultaneous algebraic
equations
2 - Using a computer
•
•
•
•
Standalone programs
Databases
Spreadsheets
Online applications
4. When using a computer, the most common method to
balance rations is the substitution method.
Choose animals
• Select an animal group
a)
b)
c)
d)
Age
Weight
Physiological state
Production level
Choose feeds
1) Forage
2) Grain
a) Energy
b) Protein
3) Supplements
5. Substitution method
• Edit amounts until ration is balanced.
• In some programs, you’ll be able to provide additional information that
will automatically adjust nutritional requirements (e.g. climate,
wastage).
6. Where to get feed composition values
“Book” values
Chemical analysis
Feed tag
7. Book values
Laboratory analysis
1) Print
1) National Forage Testing
Association
www.foragetesting.org
a) Sheep Production Handbook
Nutrition Chapter (2002)
b) Nutrient Requirements of
Small Ruminants (2007)
2) Online
a) Web sites
b) Colorado State University
http://www.ext.colostate.edu/p
ubs/livestk/01615.html
c) Beef Magazine
beefmagazine.com
3) Software and spreadsheets
2) Cumberland Valley
Analytical Services
www.foragelab.com
3) Dairy One (Cornell
University)
www.dairyone.com
8. Ration balancing software for Sheep
1)
Software
University of California
Iowa State University*
2)
Web-based
Montana State University*
Alberta Lamb Producers
3)
Database
Cornell University
4)
Spreadsheet
Chico State University
University of Maryland*
9. University of California ARIES 2007
• Standalone Windows
program
• Version 2007
• $400
$250 educational
version
• Least-cost and
evaluation modes
• Free demo
10. Iowa State University BRANDs
Ewe and Feedyard 0100
Standard
Sheep Companion 0500
Professional
• Requires MS Excel or
compatible program
• Runs on PC or Mac
• Uses substitution method to
balance for energy, protein,
vitamins, minerals, and fiber.
• Calculates cost of gain and
cost per head per day.
• Default feed library can easily
be modified
• $100
• Requires PC running MS Excel
97 or later as interface
• Same features as standard
edition, plus automated leastcost formulation and custom
supplement formulation.
• Can manage multiple
producers, rations, and feed
libraries.
• $450
https://store.extension.iastate.edu/
11. Changed to my Katahdin ewes
Changed to Clear Spring, MD
16. Montana State University
MSU Sheep Ration Program
• Online
• Free registration
• Based on 1985 NRC
requirements
– No selections for high
producing ewes
• Uses substitution method
to evaluate and balance
rations for ewes and
lambs.
http://www.msusheepration.montana.edu
21. Click on a feed to add to ration and
adjust amount with Edit Amt button
22. Keep making adjustments until ration
meets nutritional requirements.
4 lbs. of hay +
1 lb. of barley
23. SheepBytes Ration Balancer
•
•
•
•
•
Web-based application (Chrome or Firefox recommended)
Based on 2007 NRC requirements
$100 first year, $50 annual renewal (individual)
Offers more flexibility and details than most other programs.
Can download demo program
24. Cornell University FEEDFORM
• Requires Microsoft Access as interface
• Free download from http://www.sheep.cornell.edu/management/
economics/cspsoftware/feedform/
25. Chico State University
Nutrition spreadsheets
• Free Excel spreadsheets
1.
2.
3.
Market lamb evaluator
Sheep and Goat Nutrition
General Ration Evaluator
• Free download from
http://www.chicostatesheepgoat.com/resources.html
31. Step 2: Go to requirements tabs (yellow) and
find the sheep you want to evaluate a ration for.
32. Step 3: Copy the sheep’s nutrient
requirements to the Windows clipboard
Highlight cells
Hit CTRL-C
or
Right click mouse
and click copy
33. Step 4: Go to the worksheet tab (purple)
and find the same category of sheep.
34. Step 5: Paste the nutrient requirements (from the
clipboard) to the same location on the worksheet.
Highlight cells
Hit CTRL-V
or
Right click mouse
and click paste
35. In the As fed (blue) column, enter
the amount of each feed to be fed.
36. The pink cells show the difference between the
supplied nutrients and the required nutrients
Nutritional deficiencies are in red parenthesis.
37.
38.
39. Ration balancing software for sheep
Software
COST
Requires
MS Excel
Requires
MS Access
Iowa State
BRANDS
Standard
$100
Iowa State
BRANDS
Professional
$450
UC Davis
ARIES 2007
$400
MSU Feed
Ration
Free
***
Canada
SheepBytes
$100
$50/yr.
*****
****
Online
Substitution
method
Leastcost
Features
Complexity
****
*****
****
Cornell
FeedForm
Free
Chico State
University
Free
*
University
Maryland
Free
**
40. Thank you for your attention. Questions?
http://www.slideshare.net/schoenian/ration-balancing-software-for-sheep