Formulation of Least-Cost Dairy Ration for Small-Scale Dairy Farms Using ‘Solver Add-Ins’ in Microsoft Excel

Subject Areas : Camel

م.ای. حسین ¹ (Department of Animal Science and Nutrition, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Chittagong Veterinary and Animal Science University, Khulshi, Chittagong, Bangladesh)
جی .ب. داس ² (Department of Animal Science and Nutrition, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Chittagong Veterinary and Animal Science University, Khulshi, Chittagong, Bangladesh)
م.آ. اکبر ³ (Department of Animal Nutrition, Faculty of Animal Husbandry, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, Bangladesh)

Received: 2014-08-01 Accepted : 2015-01-31 Published : 2015-09-01

Keywords: dairy, least-cost, non-conventional, ration, small-scale farm,

Abstract :

Small-scale dairy farming in Bangladesh is constrained mostly due to acute shortage, high price and seasonal fluctuation of energy and protein supplements. Poor economic conditions of dairy farmers do not allow them to purchase adequate conventional energy and protein supplements. Locally available non-conventional energy and protein sources can be used as alternatives, cheaper than conventional energy and protein sources. Non-conventional feedstuffs are deficient in certain macro and micro nutrients. As a result, formulation of a least-cost balanced ration using non-conventional feedstuffs is a major challenge for marginal farmers. The current study presents a least-cost formulation plan for the small-scale dairy farmers using locally available low-cost non-conventional feedstuffs. A simple Microsoft Excel program with ‘Solver Add-ins’ has been used to formulate least-cost rations for crossbred and indigenous dairy cows. The step by step logical procedure ensured that the ration was balanced for most of the key nutrients, was least-cost and gave the user significant control over the formulation process. Incorporation of multipurpose low cost neglected forages such as water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes), helencha (Enhydra fluctuans), ipil-ipil (Leucaena leucocephala) and their subsequent effect on cost minimization is discussed. This formulation method may be recommended for use by small-scale dairy farmers as well as livestock extension workers who wish to formulate least-cost dairy rations using locally available feed sources to optimize the feeding of dairy animals at farm level.

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