A rational approach to feed planning on farms

Abstract

In spite of the general availability of technical information, computer packages and many years of use of feed budgeting, little evidence has been published on the economic benefits of the practice on farms. Survey data have shown that improved pasture utilisation may be a key factor in improving farm performance. However, this does not prove the necessity for quantitative feed planning on farms. A case is made for constructing data bases of individual farms from regular monitoring of pasture and animal performance, to improve the reliability of feed planning before any detailed feed planning or assessment of new management strategies is commenced. Keywords Computers, feed planning, feed budgeting, simulation model