This document discusses ration balancing software options for sheep. It begins by explaining why ration balancing is important to meet nutritional requirements and maximize animal performance while managing costs. There are several methods for ration balancing, including by hand or using computer programs. When using computer programs, the most common method is substitution, where feeds are edited until nutritional requirements are met. The document then reviews several free and paid ration balancing software and spreadsheet options, comparing their features such as whether they require Excel or Access, use of substitution method, and ability to perform least cost formulation.

1. Ration balancing
software for sheep
SUSAN SCHOENIAN
Sheep & Goat Specialist
University of Maryland Extension
sschoen@umd.edu - www.sheepandgoat.com

2. Why balance rations?
• To make sure you are meeting the nutritional
requirements of your sheep.
1) Optimize animal performance
2) Prevent nutritional problems
3) Manage feed costs

3. How to balance rations
1 - By hand
• Simple arithmetic
• Pearson square
• Simultaneous algebraic
equations
2 - Using a computer
•
•
•
•
Standalone programs
Databases
Spreadsheets
Online applications

4. When using a computer, the most common method to
balance rations is the substitution method.
Choose animals
• Select an animal group
a)
b)
c)
d)
Age
Weight
Physiological state
Production level
Choose feeds
1) Forage
2) Grain
a) Energy
b) Protein
3) Supplements

5. Substitution method
• Edit amounts until ration is balanced.
• In some programs, you’ll be able to provide additional information that
will automatically adjust nutritional requirements (e.g. climate,
wastage).

6. Where to get feed composition values
“Book” values
Chemical analysis
Feed tag

7. Book values
Laboratory analysis
1) Print
1) National Forage Testing
Association
www.foragetesting.org
a) Sheep Production Handbook
Nutrition Chapter (2002)
b) Nutrient Requirements of
Small Ruminants (2007)
2) Online
a) Web sites
b) Colorado State University
http://www.ext.colostate.edu/p
ubs/livestk/01615.html
c) Beef Magazine
beefmagazine.com
3) Software and spreadsheets
2) Cumberland Valley
Analytical Services
www.foragelab.com
3) Dairy One (Cornell
University)
www.dairyone.com

8. Ration balancing software for Sheep
1)
Software
 University of California
 Iowa State University*
2)
Web-based
 Montana State University*
 Alberta Lamb Producers
3)
Database
 Cornell University
4)
Spreadsheet
 Chico State University
 University of Maryland*

9. University of California ARIES 2007
• Standalone Windows
program
• Version 2007
• $400
$250 educational
version
• Least-cost and
evaluation modes
• Free demo

10. Iowa State University BRANDs
Ewe and Feedyard 0100
Standard
Sheep Companion 0500
Professional
• Requires MS Excel or
compatible program
• Runs on PC or Mac
• Uses substitution method to
balance for energy, protein,
vitamins, minerals, and fiber.
• Calculates cost of gain and
cost per head per day.
• Default feed library can easily
be modified
• $100
• Requires PC running MS Excel
97 or later as interface
• Same features as standard
edition, plus automated leastcost formulation and custom
supplement formulation.
• Can manage multiple
producers, rations, and feed
libraries.
• $450
https://store.extension.iastate.edu/

11. Changed to my Katahdin ewes
Changed to Clear Spring, MD

12. Added a feed
Add or edit feeds

13. Can add figures for micro minerals and vitamins

16. Montana State University
MSU Sheep Ration Program
• Online
• Free registration
• Based on 1985 NRC
requirements
– No selections for high
producing ewes
• Uses substitution method
to evaluate and balance
rations for ewes and
lambs.
http://www.msusheepration.montana.edu

17. Enter a custom feed

18. Feed library

19. Balance a diet: select an animal group

20. Balance a diet: select a weight

21. Click on a feed to add to ration and
adjust amount with Edit Amt button

22. Keep making adjustments until ration
meets nutritional requirements.
4 lbs. of hay +
1 lb. of barley

23. SheepBytes Ration Balancer
•
•
•
•
•
Web-based application (Chrome or Firefox recommended)
Based on 2007 NRC requirements
$100 first year, $50 annual renewal (individual)
Offers more flexibility and details than most other programs.
Can download demo program

24. Cornell University FEEDFORM
• Requires Microsoft Access as interface
• Free download from http://www.sheep.cornell.edu/management/
economics/cspsoftware/feedform/

25. Chico State University
Nutrition spreadsheets
• Free Excel spreadsheets
1.
2.
3.
Market lamb evaluator
Sheep and Goat Nutrition
General Ration Evaluator
• Free download from
http://www.chicostatesheepgoat.com/resources.html

26. Sheep and Meat Goat
Ration Evaluator

27. University of Maryland Extension
Nutrition Spreadsheets
• Free Excel spreadsheets
1.
2.
3.
4.
Sheep Ration Evaluator
Meat Goat Ration Evaluator
RationMixer
Comparing nutrient costs
• Download from http://www.sheepandgoat.com/spreadsheets.html

29. Step 1: Feed out feed inventory with
the feedstuffs you have available.

30. Spreadsheet has composition tables

31. Step 2: Go to requirements tabs (yellow) and
find the sheep you want to evaluate a ration for.

32. Step 3: Copy the sheep’s nutrient
requirements to the Windows clipboard
Highlight cells
Hit CTRL-C
or
Right click mouse
and click copy

33. Step 4: Go to the worksheet tab (purple)
and find the same category of sheep.

34. Step 5: Paste the nutrient requirements (from the
clipboard) to the same location on the worksheet.
Highlight cells
Hit CTRL-V
or
Right click mouse
and click paste

35. In the As fed (blue) column, enter
the amount of each feed to be fed.

36. The pink cells show the difference between the
supplied nutrients and the required nutrients
Nutritional deficiencies are in red parenthesis.

39. Ration balancing software for sheep
Software
COST
Requires
MS Excel
Requires
MS Access
Iowa State
BRANDS
Standard
$100

Iowa State
BRANDS
Professional
$450

UC Davis
ARIES 2007
$400
MSU Feed
Ration
Free


***
Canada
SheepBytes
$100
$50/yr.


*****

****
Online
Substitution
method
Leastcost

Features
Complexity
****


*****

****
Cornell
FeedForm
Free
Chico State
University
Free


*
University
Maryland
Free


**


40. Thank you for your attention. Questions?
http://www.slideshare.net/schoenian/ration-balancing-software-for-sheep