Ridecamp: Re: [RC] Equine ration balancing software

> Spreadsheets are great things for balancing rations, I use them all the
time
> and I guarantee Lisa does too with her cattle work.  However, you have to
> just be aware that a lot of these programs (though not all, by any means)
> are still using 1989 NRC recommendations, which have been updated quite a
> bit in various areas (ie, copper, zinc, calcium, assorted vitamins) but
not
> published in one place---you just sortof have to pick up the new values
here
> and there in the journals as they're presented.  Two, be aware that alot
of
> the NRC values aren't actually conclusions from studies done in horses.
> Many are extrapolated from other species, and so are rough estimates at
> best.  Most spreadsheets will give you minimum values, but don't account
for
> possible benefits derived by increased levels (and you have to be careful
> which are potentially beneficial when increased, which benign and which
> potentially harmful).  And finally, you have to be aware of wide ranges of
> nutrient values in different feeds grown in different areas and under
> different conditions---ie, bermuda grown as an afterthought in Florida is
a
> fur cry from bermuda grown in say, Kentucky.  So unless you get your feed
> analyzed and know the exact values (which even then are just
representative
> averages for that batch), just remember that NRC book values are rough
> estimates as well.
>
> Having said all that, spreadsheets are really handy things to have around,
> and a bunch of fun to play with.  And eighty bucks is a good price,
> reasonable for someone that just wants to keep an eye on their own ration
> and look for glaring problems.
>
> Have fun with it!  :-)
>
> Susan G
>

I'm adding this to the bottom of Susan's, so everyone can have both answers
in one place if they like.  A good program, if it's still using 1989 values,
should have the option to make changes to the required amounts (Spartan for
dairy cattle does, so I'm assuming that the horse version does as well).
The key to that is getting the values from the correct table to insert.
They should allow you to save your values, without wiping out the default
values in some way.

Also, the main thing to remember about ration programs is that they all
assume the user has some background in formulation--i.e., that you
understand the basic steps in formulation, how to estimate dry matter intake
for your animal, what order to input feeds in, that sort of thing.  I'm sure
Susan experienced this with her students, but I know that when I was
teaching feeds and feeding, students grasped the mechanics of the program
but were really clueless when it came to selecting feeds and actually
designing their own rations.  Not surprising, most of them went for any
byproduct from the brewing and distilling industries!  The rations would
balance perfectly, and be completely unsuitable for feeding.

Personally, I usually don't use the automatic formulation commands, and
balance my rations myself--I just let the computer do the math.  In other
words, I still add ingredients in the same order I would add them on paper.
If I get a chance this week, I'll see if there is a demo out there that can
be downloaded--I want to start collecting and assessing some horse ration
programs anyway.

As Susan pointed out, some of the values from the charts are extrapolations
from other species, and while it's reasonable to extrapolate from cattle to
sheep or vice versa, extrapolating from cattle to horses isn't always
effective.  Also, NRC recommendations are basically nutrition by committee,
so what goes into the NRC books can be influenced by the composition of the
committee, even if they don't mean to unduly influence the tables.  Bottom
line--use the formulation as a guide, then use your own judgment whether or
not the ration is doing the job.  As the old Arabian proverb goes "The eye
of the master fattens his cattle."  NRC values are meant to be used as
guidelines, not absolutes, but they are great starting points.

Lisa


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