Dairy Cow Model

Metabolisable Energy (ME) and Metabolisable Protein (MP) requirements from the UK Feed into Milk (FiM) system. (Feed into Milk - A new applied feeding system for dairy cows. Nottingham University Press, 2004).

ME feed values from UK feed tables and other internationally published data. MP supply calculated from soluble, small particle and large particle rumen model outlined in Feed into Milk. Decisions Support Systems (DSS) for amino acid requirements, rumen pH prediction and milk compositional change prediction all derived from Feed into Milk.

Beef & Youngstock

ME and MP supply and requirements from AFRC Energy and Protein Requirements of Ruminants (CAB International 1993).

Sheep

This model contains Ewe and Lamb templates. Model requirements are based on AFRC 1993 with contributions from SAC, AHDB and DietCheck.

Vitamin and Mineral requirements

Summarised from UK requirements (1984 & 1991), The Mineral Nutrition of Livestock (Underwood & Suttle, 1999), NRC 2001 and other published information.

Monogastric feed database

From UK and internationally published values.

Export/Import clients

Allows clients, with all their associated diets, to be exported to or imported from a file. The file can then be emailed to another DietCheck user.

Edit user feeds library

Edit and create feeds in the user feeds library. These feeds are then shown in the 'Feed library' of the Diet feeds screen and are available to all clients for use in any diet. Ideal for the creating of local or company feeds.

Import user feed library

Feeds created in the user feed library can be imported into another DietCheck copy.

Export user feed library

Feeds created in the user feed library can be exported as a file. The file can then be emailed to another DietCheck user to be imported.

Copy reports to file

Creates files which can be automatically opened in Microsoft Word. Here the text can be edited or used in other documents (e.g. as part a report), saved and emailed to the client.

Show milk solids

Calculates total solids (milk fat + protein yield) in the Dairy animal screen. This option comes as standard in the New Zealand version.

On farm optimisation

Optimises either on farm dairy or beef diets . The optimiser takes account of animal performance so that daily nutrient requirements are used as an optimiser input.

Compound optimisation

Optimises compound/supplement/mixes dairy, beef, pig or poultry rations diets. Users define the levels of nutrients and feeds to make a known amount of feed (e.r. 1 tonne).

Save farm formulation

Saves an on farm formulation to the feed library.

Save compound formulation

Saves an on compound/supplement/mixes formulation to the feed library.

Sensitivity analysis

Shows the marginal value and breaking point costs of feeds and nutrients.