Livestock Rations Research Articles

A Multiobjective Diet Planning Support System Using the Satisficing Trade-off Method

This paper shows that the satisficing trade-off method (STOM), one of the interactive multiobjective programming techniques, can be applied effectively to the formulation of livestock rations. Nutrient requirements are considered as soft constraints whose right-hand sides are flexible to some extent. This is easily done by regarding the values of the right-hand sides of the constraints as aspiration levels of the decision maker for objective functions. In this way a well-balanced solution can be obtained by STOM with automatic trade-off analysis. In STOM, moreover, because the objective functions and the constraint functions are interchangeable, decision makers are not required to consider the role of objective and constraint as fixed from the beginning. The authors’ experience is that the method makes ration formulation very easy, rapid and flexible. In addition, this paper shows how effectively STOM can be applied not only to diet planning but also to nutritional diagnosis. © 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. J. Multi-Crit. Decis. Anal.6: 131–139 (1997) No. of Figures: 1. No. of Tables: 3. No. of

AC Hercule soybean

AC Hercule is a 2600 crop heat unit soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merr.) cultivar with seed protein levels about 3–4% higher than oilseed cultivars. AC Hercule is intended for whole-seed use in livestock rations. AC Hercule has field tolerance to phytophthora root rot. Key words: Soybean, cultivar description, high protein cultivar

AC Proteus soybean

AC Proteus is a 2500 crop heat unit soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] cultivar with seed protein levels about 6–9% higher than oilseed cultivars. AC Proteus is intended for whole-seed use in livestock rations. AC Proteus has field tolerance to phytophthora root rot and resistance to powdery mildew. Key words: Soybean, cultivar description, high protein cultivar

Measuring biases of technical change: The case of cereals displacement in livestock ration formulation in Belgium

Persistent feed-price distortions brought about by the CAP has favoured the use of non-grain resources in livestock feeding in the EU. This paper is concerned with the measurement of the rates and biases of technical change which have led to the displacement of cereals in livestock ration formulation. The analysis is applied to the Belgian compound-feed industry, where the displacement of cereals has been striking. An augmented translog cost function is adopted which allows identification of both endogenous (price-induced) and exogenous biases of technical change as well as the calculation of short-run (‘static’) and long-run (‘dynamic’) price elasticities of feed input demand. Finally, a decomposition analysis is provided, in which changes in the overall proportions of grains and non-grain feeds used by compounders are explained by substitution, output mix changes, and/or technical change biases.

Uncertainty in Nutritive Measures of Mixed Livestock Rations

Totally mixed rations are an increasingly popular feeding method for high producing dairy cows. Although a TMR formulation may be technically correct, many sources of variation influence the ration actually consumed by cows. To understand and to control variation among batches, uncertainty analysis was applied to TMR feeding to identify sources of error or uncertainty that contribute most to overall uncertainty in diet characteristics. A spreadsheet implementation of the uncertainty analysis allowed for rapid assessment of error sources that may reduce productivity. For a sample TMR, uncertainty in ingredient nutrient concentrations contributed most to overall uncertainty. Uncertainty in forage DM content and amounts of ingredients with high nutrient concentrations also contributed substantially to overall uncertainty.

Relaxation of nutrient requirements on livestock rations through interactive multigoal programming

This paper presents an interactive methodology aimed at relaxing overrigid specifications of nutrient requirements of livestock rations. The methodology is a hybrid between multigoal programming and the multiple criteria interactive technique known as STEM. The method proposed is applied to a ration formulation case for dairy cows in Andalusia, Spain. The approach presented is also compared to other interactive methodologies addressing the same problem proposed in the literature.

Multiple objective fractional programming and livestock ration formulation: A case study for dairy cow diets in Spain

This paper illustrates the application of Multiple Objective Fractional Programming to Livestock Ration Formulation in a real-life situation. For the situation being modelled, the rigid way in which constraints are treated in a conventional least-cost Linear Programming framemodel leads to difficulties in obtaining a feasible diet. The introduction of a second objective, besides least-cost, representing the maximisation of the inclusion in the diet of the feeds available on the farm results in a Multiple Objective Programming framework. From several versions of the proposed model, one with a fractional objective turns out to be the most effective in yielding adequate solutions to the specific situation.

An Interactive Multigoal Programming Model for Determining Livestock Rations: an Application to Dairy Cows in Andalusia, Spain

This paper addresses an important problem in the field of livestock ration formulation: the rigidity of the right-hand sides of the model. Thus, instead of considering the nutritional requirements as fixed values they are considered as targets which may or may not be achieved. In this way a multigoal programming model is formulated. The preferences of the ration-formulator are elicited resorting to the interactive method proposed by Zionts and Wallenius. The approach proposed is applied to a ration formulation problem for dairy cows in the Pedroches Valley in Andalusia, Spain.

An Interactive Multigoal Programming Model for Determining Livestock Rations: an Application to Dairy Cows in Andalusia, Spain

An Interactive Multigoal Programming Model for Determining Livestock Rations: an Application to Dairy Cows in Andalusia, Spain

An Interactive Multigoal Programming Model for Determining Livestock Rations: An Application to Dairy Cows in Andalusia, Spain

An Interactive Multigoal Programming Model for Determining Livestock Rations: An Application to Dairy Cows in Andalusia, Spain

ω-3 Fatty acids: Comparison of plant and seafood sources in human nutrition

w-3 Fatty acids (w-3FAs) are found in seafoods, some plants, and some livestock rations. Fish oils are the only concentrated source of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA; 20:5 w-3) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; 22:6 (d-3). The major co-3FA in plants is a-linolenic acid (LNA; 18:3 w-3). LNA must be converted to EPA before it exerts biological effects similar to EPA, such as reduced platelet aggregation. Human beings convert LNA to EPA to a small extent only. LNA may be more readily oxidized than incorporated into tissues. The effects of consuming LNA-rich oils are more modest than the effects of EPA-rich oils. Evidence suggests that w-3FAs are essential and highly desirable for brain and eye development and heart health. LNA is the only source of w-3FAs for vegetarians. Because LNA and EPA are not biologically equivalent, food composition data or product claims mentioning total w-3FA content must clarify the individual w-3FAs present.

Goal programming with penalty functions and livestock ration formulation

This paper contends that the conventional linear programming paradigm commonly used for livestock ration formulation suffers from several inherent weaknesses. One such weakness is the mathematical rigidity that must be respected to meet the minimum nutritional requirements specified in the model, thus making the paradigm inflexible and unrealistic under many situations. Goal programming techniques, on the other hand, do not impose such rigid conditions and also allow consideration of several decision criteria. This paper represents a departure from the traditional LP approach by formulating the diet formulation problem as a GP model incorporating penalty functions that make the specification of minimum levels of nutrients more flexible and realistic.

Incorporation of Uncertainty in Composition of Feeds into Least-Cost Ration Models. 2. Joint-Chance Constrained Programming

Least-cost formulation of livestock rations and mixes by linear programming techniques assumes a perfect knowledge of the composition of each available ingredient. This assumption cannot hold in practical situations. When more than one nutrient is considered imperfectly known (random), there exists a deterministic equivalent from the family of joint-chance constrained programming problems. The theory is reviewed first; from this theory four models are proposed for the formulation of a supplement feed. The first model represents what is considered an industry standard. The second model is a linear approximation to the original problem and is solved by linear programming techniques. The last two models make use of a Bonferroni inequality but must be solved by nonlinear programming techniques. Fifteen ingredients were considered; their prices from 1970 to 1979 were published. Over the 10-yr period, cost of ingredients per ton of mix averaged $135.27, $134.82, $127.05, and $126.24 for the four models, respectively. Therefore, a $9.03 (6.7%) reduction in ingredient costs can be expected for the feed industry with the adoption of these techniques. However, a nonlinear programming algorithm must be used, which is not available and “friendly” as current least-cost computer software.

A review on the utilization of agricultural wastes as feeds for livestock and experimental safeguards against erroneous conclusions

The paper discusses the results of experiments on the inclusion of some Indian agricultural wastes in concentrate feeds and the value of these wastes in practical livestock rations.

Multiple-criteria decision-making techniques and their role in livestock ration formulation

The livestock ration formulation problem is postulated within the framework of multiple-criteria decision-making techniques. This exercise is motivated by the fact that the ordinary least-cost approach can, and does, generate solutions that either cannot be implemented or supply nutritionally undesirable levels of various nutrients. This originates from using cost as the criterion for selecting the ingredients of the diet. But in fact, diet formulation problems involve several criteria and should, therefore, be solved using techniques designed for modelling such problems. This paper is an attempt at introducing these techniques to agricultural systems modellers and then demonstrating their use in livestock ration formulation. The multiple-criteria decision-making techniques covered include goal programming and its variants such as weighted and lexicographic approaches and multiple-objective programming.

Effects of a Nematode on Biomass and Density of Silverleaf Nightshade

Effects of a Nematode on Biomass and Density of Silverleaf Nightshade

Exchangeable sodium pool size and turnover in relation to diet in reindeer

Sodium pool size and transfer rate was estimated in reindeer (Rangifer tarandus L.) using intravenous and intraluminal injections of 22NaCl. Body water pool size and water transfer rate was estimated with 3HOH. Reindeer were consuming diets high in sodium (Na) and potassium (K) (commercial livestock ration), low in Na and high in K (summer grazing), and low in Na and K (lichens). The exchangeable Na pool size (milliequivalents per kilogram body weight) in reindeer given the high sodium diet (61 ± 2) was similar to other mammalian species. A marked decline in the pool (to 36 ± 3) was noted when reindeer were grazing summer vegetation in central Alaska and the Na pool was also low (46 ± 5) when they were fed lichens. Concentrations of Na in plasma, saliva, urine, and feces were directly correlated with the exchangeable Na pool size. Sodium transfer rates for reindeer given the high Na diet or grazing were two- to three-fold higher than daily Na intake rates. Loss of Na in feces and urine were of roughly equal importance in reindeer fed lichens or at pasture. Signs of Na insufficiency indicated by a salivary Na:K ratio of less than 2:1 were noted when the Na pool size declined below 40 mequiv./kg body weight. Evidence is presented for an extremely rapid replenishment of the Na pool following Na supplement of the diet.

Tannins in sal seed ( Shorea robusta) and sal seed meal limit their utilization as livestock feeds

The availability of sal seed meal (SSM), a by-product of the sal seed fat industry in India, is of the order of 5 million tons per annum. Based on results of numerous feeding trials, recommendations have been made for its extensive utilization as an ingredient of concentrate feeds for cattle, pigs and poultry. The dry matter of sal seeds contains 10–16% fat, 6–9% crude protein and 7–12% tannins. Fat extraction lowers the ether extract content of SSM to 4–8%. The nitrogen-free extract content of the meal, though comparable to that of maize grain, includes a high proportion of tannins and lignin. As a protein-low material it has no value as a protein supplement, and the presence of tannins adversely affects the utilization of other feed proteins. Attempts to remove tannins from SSM are neither effective nor practicable. Critical evaluation of the results of feeding experiments shows that the available energy in the meal, represented by total digestible nutrients, is comparable to that in poor quality roughages. The invariable absence of a negative control in the experimental designs has led to incongruous interpretation of results, which mask the harmful effects of SSM as a feed ingredient. It is concluded that in the interest of welfare of the livestock industry, the use of SSM in livestock rations should be discontinued.

Dietary influences on sodium and potassium metabolism of reindeer.

Sodium (Na) and potassium (K) concentrations in plasma, saliva, rumen liquor, urine, and feces were measured in reindeer, Rangifer tarandus, given diets high in Na and K (a commercial livestock ration), low in both minerals (lichens), and low in Na and high in K (summer range in interior Alaska). Sodium concentrations in plasma, urine, feces, and saliva were high in reindeer fed the commercial ration and were lower in reindeer grazing summer vegetation. Concentrations of Na and K in saliva were highly correlated with those in plasma. During summer, there was a decrease in saliva Na and an increase in K. The calculated salivary Na:K ratio for reindeer grazing summer vegetation (1.4:1 and 1.6:1) suggested Na insufficiency. Sodium concentrations were higher and within the normal range in saliva of reindeer fed lichens.

By-products from cereal, sugar beet and potato processing

From just five industries in the United Kingdom — brewing, distilling, milling, sugar extraction and potato processing — at least 2.7 × 106 mega joules (MJ) of metabolizable energy (ME) and 4 × 105 tonnes of crude protein (CP) are available annually to livestock farming as by-products. This is equivalent to 1.6 × 106 tonnes of barley and 4.7 × 105 tonnes of soya bean meal, although in some cases nutrient density may differ somewhat from that found in barley or soya.A large proportion of the by-products available is already used in animal feeds, either djrectly by the farmer or through inclusion in compound feeds which are then used as components of balanced rations.The materials available are potentially alternative feedstuffs to conventional forages or concentrates. As such they will only form part of a balanced ration and it is in this context that their relative value and usefulness can be judged. In many investigations there has been a tendency to consider particular by-products in isolation and as a consequence any nutrient imbalance has been highlighted to the detriment of the material as an alternative feed. Very few straight feedstuffs contain ratios of nutrients balanced for particular levels of animal production and invariably rations for livestock consist of blends of different materials. Whilst extremes of nutrient imbalance may be identified in individual by-products they are, none the less, wholly suited to blending with other by-products or feeds of contrasting nutrient content in order to produce a completely balanced ration.