Feed Formulation Tools and Techniques

Vocabulary flashcards covering feed formulation methods, specific nutrient requirements, growth stages, and tools discussed in the PoultryHub Australia lecture.

Solver

A Microsoft Excel tool found under the 'data' tab used for solving equations to minimize or maximize parameters in feed formulation.

Feed Formulation

The process of solving a series of equations to minimize or maximize given parameters, such as cost or nutrients.

Wet Chemistry

A technique for identifying the nutrient content of ingredients through laboratory analysis.

NIR (Near Infra-red Spectroscopy)

A technique that scans an ingredient with a calibration to estimate its nutrient content.

Book Values

Means of previously analyzed ingredient samples available on the internet, such as from Feedipedia.

Nutrient Specifications

The minimum level of nutrients required to ensure optimal production performance across different growth stages.

Starter

A broiler diet growth stage typically covering birds from $0$ to $10$ days old.

Grower

A broiler diet growth stage typically covering birds from $10$ to $21$ days old.

Finisher

A broiler diet growth stage typically covering birds from $21$ to $35$ days old.

Withdrawal

A broiler diet growth stage typically covering birds aged $35$ days and older.

Rule 1 of Feed Formulation

States that one should not assume that least-cost formulation automatically means maximum profit.

Hygroscopic

A property of ingredients where they tend to absorb moisture; Rule 10 states you should not assume ingredients are not hygroscopic.

Linear Feed Formulation Equations

Mathematical representations such as $X + Y = 100$ for weight and $3.43 X + 2.44 Y \geq 2.97\,ME/kg$ for energy, where $X$ is corn and $Y$ is soybean meal.

LSMFT.exe

The specific Excel Workbook used for linear feed formulation workshops.

digestible lysine (dLYS)

The nutrient index used in the workshop spreadsheet to index true protein and all amino acids.

Meat and bone meal (MBM)

A high-calcium ingredient added to layer diets to meet requirements that grains alone cannot satisfy.

AME (MJ)

Apparent Metabolizable Energy measured in megajoules; Australian wheat has an average value of $10.73\,MJ$ according to the transcript.