Livestock Ration Formulation for Dairy Cattle and Buffalo

Livestock Ration Formulation for Dairy Cattle and Buffalo provides an interdisciplinary approach to optimizing dairy cattle feed formulation, reducing feeding costs, and increasing income for farmers. It utilizes Linear and Goal programming models with Hybrid Real Coded Genetic Algorithm to plan balanced diets based on nutrient requirements. The book offers a valuable reference for local farmers and provides a foundation for developing software and Android applications to formulate least-cost rations.

Format: Hardback
Length: 114 pages
Publication date: 22 April 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Livestock Ration Formulation for Dairy Cattle and Buffalo offers an interdisciplinary and comprehensive approach to optimizing dairy cattle feed formulation. It serves as a valuable resource for dairy farmers by introducing them to the appropriate frequency and quantity of a balanced diet to be fed to cows and buffaloes based on their body condition. By doing so, the feeding costs can be reduced, while also increasing the income of dairy farmers, as they often lack sufficient knowledge of feeding practices. This book also empowers animal nutritionists to work with dairy farmers who have limited feed resources to fulfill the nutrient requirements of crude protein (CP), total digestible nutrient (TDN), calcium (Ca), and phosphorus (P) by developing a software program to plan a balanced and cost-effective diet.

The Linear and Goal programming models for non-pregnant dairy buffalo are solved using a Hybrid Real Coded Genetic Algorithm, and the results are compared with Real Coded Genetic Algorithm (RGA) considering different versions such as RGA without crossover, RGA without mutation, RGA with crossover, and mutation. These models can also be applied to other nutritional models like CNCPS, INRA.

This book represents a significant step forward in providing the least cost diet formulation based on the nutrient requirements of cattle and buffalo, calculated according to the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR, 2013) and the National Research Council (NRC, 2001) on a dry matter basis. It offers a clear and precise platform for other researchers in the Animal Nutrition field, providing an initial foundation for building a software and Android application to formulate least cost rations.

The data and algorithms utilized in this book directly benefit dairy farmers by enabling them to feed balanced diets at affordable rates. The book's features include:

• An interdisciplinary and comprehensive approach to optimizing dairy cattle feed formulation.
• Introduction of appropriate feeding practices for cows and buffaloes based on their body condition.
• Reduction of feeding costs and increase in income for dairy farmers.
• Empowerment of animal nutritionists to work with limited feed resources.
• Development of software programs to plan balanced and cost-effective diets.
• Application of Linear and Goal programming models for non-pregnant dairy buffalo.
• Comparison of results with Real Coded Genetic Algorithm (RGA) considering different versions.
• Potential application of these models to other nutritional models like CNCPS, INRA.
• Direct benefit to dairy farmers by enabling them to feed balanced diets at affordable rates.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032137476