Chapter 6 Rationing

Instructions
Enter data and values in the yellow cells
The green cells contain data carried forward from other tables
Cells that contain values that require checking and validating

The procedure for ration formulation used here has the following steps:
·           Set a target daily gain.
·           Establish the DM, ME and CP contents of the feed ingredients.
·           Predict the M/D of the final ration.
·           Determine the daily ME requirement and the required CP level in the ration.
·           Predict potential forage intake and calculate the amount of concentrate supplement required.
·           Compile the daily ration.
·           Draw up a feed budget for the whole feeding period.
NOTE As this is a spreadsheet that can be edited and altered the user is solely responsible for the validity

(a) Cattle performance

Daily gain kg
Start weight kg
Final weight kg
Average weight kg (start + final) ÷ 2
Total gain kg (final - start weight)
Feeding period days (total gain ÷ daily gain)
(b) Feeds
Ration ingredient DM ME CP
(Decimal) (MJ/kg DM) (Decimal)
Forage
Concs
(c) Ration M/D
Daily gain Predicted M/D
(kg) (MJ ME/kg DM)

(d) ME and CP requirements

Average Daily ME Ration
Liveweight gain requirement CP content
(kg) (kg) (MJ ME/day) (Decimal proportion)

(e) Potential forage intake

Potential forage kg DM/day
intake
Concentrate kg reduction in forage
(f) ME from ad substitution
libitum forage DM per kg
Forage ME content x concentrate DM
Potential intake
(MJ ME/kg DM) (kg DM/day)

(g) Is there a shortfall of ME from forage?

ME required MJ/day
ME from forage alone MJ/day
Shortfall
(h) Calculate the net value of 1 kg concentrate DM
1 kg concentrate DM supplies MJ ME
 Less reduced forage DMI kg
@ MJ ME/kg DM = MJ ME
Net value of 1 kg concentrate DM MJ ME/kg
(i) Daily concentrate requirement
Shortfall MJ ME ÷ Net value
= kg concentrate DM x MJ ME/kg DM
= MJ ME/day
(j) Actual forage intake
ME requirement MJ ME/day
Less concentrate ME MJ ME
= Forage ME required MJ ME/day
÷ Forage ME/kg DM kg DM/day
(k) Check actual M/D
Feed ingredient DMI ME
(kg DM/day) (MJ/day)

Totals
Actual M/D is total ME intake ÷ total DMI =
Predicted M/D

(l) Check CP
Feed ingredient DMI CP
(DMI x Decimal CP in feed DM)

Totals
Total CP ÷ Total DMI CP content OK?
(m) Daily ration
Feed ingredient DMI ÷ Decimal DM content
(kg/day)

(n) Feed budget

Feed ingredient Daily x Days = Feed/head
ration
(kg) (kg)

The spreadsheet is protected to prevent the formulae being overwritten and deleted by accident.
Password is tom all lower case

This spreadsheet has been prepared with due care and attention but it is used at your own risk
©A T Ch
 For 2nd Ed, 2001

lement required.

ely responsible for the validity of the results!

nal) ÷ 2
art weight)
n ÷ daily gain)

CP
(Decimal)

Ration
CP content
(Decimal proportion)

DM/day
reduction in forage
DM per kg
concentrate DM
ME supplied
(MJ ME/day)
 MJ ME/kg DM

MJ ME/kg DM
MJ ME/kg DM

= Fresh weight
(kg/day)

Feed/head x Cattle = Total feed

(kg) (Tonnes)

your own risk

©A T Chamberlain, 2009
 Chapter 6 Rationing
Instructions
Enter data and values in the yellow cells
The green cells contain data carried forward from other tables
Cells that contain values that require checking and validating

The procedure for ration formulation used here has the following steps:
·           Set a target daily gain.
·           Establish the DM, ME and CP contents of the feed ingredients.
·           Predict the M/D of the final ration.
·           Determine the daily ME requirement and the required CP level in the ration.
·           Predict potential forage intake and calculate the amount of concentrate supplement required.
·           Compile the daily ration.
·           Draw up a feed budget for the whole feeding period.
NOTE As this is a spreadsheet that can be edited and altered the user is solely responsible for the validity

(a) Cattle performance

Daily gain 1.0 kg
Start weight 375 kg
Final weight 525 kg
Average weight 450 kg (start + final) ÷ 2
Total gain 150 kg (final - start weight)
Feeding period 150 days (total gain ÷ daily gain)
(b) Feeds
Ration ingredient DM ME CP
(Decimal) (MJ/kg DM) (Decimal)
Forage Silage 0.25 11.0 0.165
Concs Rolled Barley 0.86 13.3 0.129
(c) Ration M/D
Daily gain Predicted M/D
(kg) (MJ ME/kg DM)
1 11.0
(d) ME and CP requirements
Average Daily ME Ration
Liveweight gain requirement CP content
(kg) (kg) (MJ ME/day) (Decimal proportion)
450 1 97 0.13
(e) Potential forage intake
Potential forage 7.9 kg DM/day
intake
Concentrate 0.5 kg reduction in forage
(f) ME from ad substitution
libitum forage DM per kg
Forage ME content x concentrate DM
Potential intake
(MJ ME/kg DM) (kg DM/day)
Silage 11 7.9
(g) Is there a shortfall of ME from forage?
ME required 97 MJ/day
ME from forage alone 87 MJ/day
Shortfall 10
(h) Calculate the net value of 1 kg concentrate DM
1 kg concentrate DM supplies 13.3 MJ ME
 Less reduced forage DMI 0.5 kg
@ 11.0 MJ ME/kg DM = 5.5 MJ ME
Net value of 1 kg concentrate DM 7.8 MJ ME/kg
(i) Daily concentrate requirement
Shortfall 10 MJ ME ÷ Net value 7.8
= 1.3 kg concentrate DM x 13.3 MJ ME/kg DM
= 17 MJ ME/day
(j) Actual forage intake
ME requirement 97 MJ ME/day
Less concentrate ME 17 MJ ME
= Forage ME required 80 MJ ME/day
÷ Forage ME/kg DM 7.3 kg DM/day
(k) Check actual M/D
Feed ingredient DMI ME
(kg DM/day) (MJ/day)
Silage 7.3 80
Rolled Barley 1.3 17
Totals 8.5 97.0
Actual M/D is total ME intake ÷ total DMI = 11.3
Predicted M/D 11.0
OK
(l) Check CP
Feed ingredient DMI CP
(DMI x Decimal CP in feed DM)
Silage 7.3 1.20
Rolled Barley 1.3 0.17
Totals 8.5 1.36
Total CP ÷ Total DMI 0.160 CP content OK? Re-ration
(m) Daily ration
Feed ingredient DMI ÷ Decimal DM content
(kg/day)
Silage 7.3 0.25
Rolled Barley 1.3 0.86
(n) Feed budget
Feed ingredient Daily x Days = Feed/head
ration
(kg) (kg)
Silage 29.0 150.0 4351.5
Rolled Barley 1.5 225.8
The spreadsheet is protected to prevent the formulae being overwritten and deleted by accident.
Password is tom all lower case

This spreadsheet has been prepared with due care and attention but it is used at your own risk
©A T Ch
 For 2nd Ed, 2001

lement required.

ely responsible for the validity of the results!

nal) ÷ 2
art weight)
n ÷ daily gain)

CP
(Decimal)
0.165
0.129

Ration
CP content
(Decimal proportion)
0.13

DM/day
reduction in forage
DM per kg
concentrate DM
ME supplied
(MJ ME/day)
86.9
 MJ ME/kg DM

MJ ME/kg DM
MJ ME/kg DM

= Fresh weight
(kg/day)
29.0
1.5

Feed/head x Cattle = Total feed

(kg) (Tonnes)
4351.5
225.8

your own risk

©A T Chamberlain, 2009