Overview

With the exception of the nutrient names in the nutrient grid on the Nutrient Constraints tab of the ration record form, when a new ration record is created from scratch it is essentially empty. It contains no feed items in the feed constraints grid.

The first step required to import feed items is to link the ration to a feed library. At this point a few comments on feed libraries are appropriate.

Formulate2 is supplied with a feed library named Master Feedstuff Library. This library is a source from which you may import feeds into custom libraries you create for producers. In addition to the Master Feedstuff Library you'll also find the Quick Start Feed Library. This library is used in the First Ration Set Up interactive exercise and can be used as a "starter" library for other feeding programs.

Custom feed libraries are easy to create and populate with feeds and utilizing them has significant benefits.

While the collective bulk storage of harvested corn grain and other like items may have an "homogenizing" effect on nutrient analysis, corn silage from one operation to another can be almost as different as night and day - the same can be said of all forages.

Attempting to confine all rations to a single feed library would mean creating separate forage feed records in the master library for each producer. While such an approach is feasible, it can have significant implications for how robustly Formulate2 performs - the larger a library becomes the longer the time required to retrieve information from it.

Creating custom libraries for each producer translates into extremely fast data retrieval times and optimized overall program performance. Custom libraries also simplify your work by allowing you rapid access to the feeds specific to the rations your working with at any given time.

Creating a custom feed library is as simple as typing a name for it. Populating it with feeds is equally as simple.

Importing Feed Items Into Ration Records

Actually, what is imported into ration records from the linked feed library is only a portion of the feed record - just enough information to allow you to set feed constraints, manipulate feed prices at the ration record level and to allow Formulate2 to locate and retrieve the complete record when needed.

The process of importing these token feed items is very simple and similar to using a shopping cart on the internet or in a grocery store.

Here's What You Do ...

When a ration record is linked to a feed library, the ration record toolbar Feeds button will be enabled. Clicking on the Feeds button will display a scrollable listing of all the feeds in the linked library. You can scroll through the listing and select the feeds you want to use in the diet. When you've select the feeds you wish to use, just click on the Export button and the items you selected will be placed in the ration record feeds grid. From there, you can arrange them in the order you want them, set feed minimus and maximums and use pop up menu options to access the full feed record to edit analyses if you need to.

Any item that is already in the diet wil be marked with an X and items that you've just selected will be marked with and asterisk * .

Here's How It Works ...

If you're working with a rew ration that you haven't added to the ration library, you will need to select the feed library then click on the toolbar Add button to enable the Feeds button.