Feed Planning

Overview

View Details

Analyze Feed Requirements

Overview

​

This screen provides a simple view of all paddock and feed store details along with the number of animals currently assigned to each and the number of feed days remaining for assigned animals. It also provides a tool to help you determine the feed requirements per day for a group of animals, view which paddocks and feed stores meet the minimum ME requirement for the group and the number of days that the group can be fed in each Paddock and/or Feed Store.

​

With this information, you can assign groups of animals to paddocks and/or feed stores and monitor the number of days remaining. Note - there are many abbreviations used in this screen, click here for definitions.

​

This screen covers:

1. How to view and interpret the information on the screen

2. How to remove animals from a Paddock or Feed store

3. How to analyze the feed requirements for a group of animals, determine where/what to feed them and assign them to a Paddock or Feed store

Note: Early 2019 release will include the following modifications to this screen:

• The MJME Available and associated number of feed days will automatically update based on Paddock Inventory growth inputs

• The system will track individual "feed groups" as they are assigned so you can remove specific groups of animals from a paddock and/or feed store but keep others that were previously assigned. Currently selecting REMOVE removes all previously assigned animals from the daily requirement.

• The feed requirement analysis tool will be refined to include:

  • Changing the table lookup nature of Cattle and Sheep to a formula that enables more accurate feed requirements

  • The feed requirement calculation will incorporate the Paddock Terrain type and ME of Paddocks and Feed Stores

View Details

​

The first time the Feed Planning button is selected after adding a few paddocks and feed stores, it will present a screen similar to what is displayed below. The displayed data is as follows:​

• Type - either Paddock or Feed

• Name - either the name of the Paddock or the combination of Feed Type and Feed Name
• ​Current # - the total number of animals currently assigned to the Paddock (from previous assignments)
• ME - the ME of the Paddock or Feed 
• MJ Available - the current MJME available - currently this is adjusted based on the following scenarios
  • Paddock Inventory - paddock inventory is updated
  • Paddock / Feed Costs - Add Feed to an existing Feed entry
  • A calendar day passes and the amount is reduced based on the required feed for assigned animals
• Feed Days - the number of feed days left for previously assigned animals
• Remove - if animals have been previously assigned, this button will be Green. Selecting it will remove the Current # from the paddock and the associated daily MJME reduction. 
• Assign - if an analysis has been completed (selecting ANALYZE button), the ASSIGN button will be Green and selecting it will assign the feed requirement for the analyzed animal group to the Paddock or Feed

If animals have been previously assigned to a Paddock or Feed, the screen will look similar to what is displayed below with the Current # and Feed Days filled in along with the REMOVE button active (Green). 

Analyze Feed Requirements

​

The primary function of this screen is to help farmers accurately plan the feed requirements for specific groups of animals. To do this:

​1. Select the ANALYZE button 

2. This will open a wizard to enter

• # of Animals

• Animal Type - Cattle, Deer or Sheep

• Animal Category - options to select from will be based on Animal Type previously selected. Note: Early 2019 release will update these.

• Based on the Animal Category selected, the subsequent wizard screens will be different to accommodate the inputs required for the feed calculation. These currently include the following:

  • Live Weight

  • Weight Gain

  • Weeks Before Birth

  • Weeks or Months After Birth

  • Land Type

  • Calf Weaning Weight

  • Weaning Month

  • Current Month

• Review - this will present a summary of your entries

3. After you select the COMPLETE button in the Review screen, the system will:

• Remove the wizard

• Present the inputs from the wizard along with the calculated feed requirement in MJME/Day terms

• Present the number of days the analyzed group of animals can be fed in listed Paddocks and Feed stores. Note: this number accounts for currently assigned animals plus the analyzed group.

• Highlight the ME of any Paddock or Feed store that has an ME that is insufficient to meet the feed requirements

4. To assign the analyzed group of animals to a Paddock or Feed store, simply select the corresponding ASSIGN button. If the ME is highlighted in red for the selected Paddock or Feed store, you will be presented a warning dialog.​

5. To split the feed requirement for the analyzed group of animals between a Paddock and Feed store, simply select ASSIGN on the Paddock row. This will remove the ability to assign a different Paddock but Feed stores ASSIGN buttons will remain active. Select the ASSIGN button for the Feed that you would like to split the requirement with. This will ask you to estimate the % of the requirement that will come from the Paddock and the Feed store and will recalculate the # of days based on this.