Nigeria Oriented Poultry Feed Formulation Software
Nigeria Oriented Poultry Feed Formulation Software
Nigeria Oriented Poultry Feed Formulation Software
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1
Mechanical Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
2
Animal Science Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
Abstract: This paper describes a design requirement of feed formulation software for poultry industries
in N igerian. Nigeria based ingredients and United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Nutrient
Database – SR20 were recommended for special consideration. Factors like acceptability of the feed by
the birds, palatability, digestibility and the cost of feed production and the presence of anti- nutritional
factors which may tie down the nutrients contained in the feedstuff must be built in as the users are not
going to be experts. Stochastic Method on Feed Formulation is recommended as great ingredient
variability should be expected.
Key words: Ration, Ration Formulation, Least- Cost Ration Formulation, Linear Programming, Poultry
Corresponding Author: Afolayan, Matthew Olatunde, Mechanical Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Ahmadu
Bello University, Zaria.
E-mail: [email protected]
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J. Appl. Sci. Res., 4(11): 1596-1602, 2008
ideal for feeding the birds. Therefore there is the need method for the Pearson Square method using a simple
to evaluate the feed formulation before it can be given algebraic equation.
to the birds [9 ,4 ]. The advantages of this one over the Pearson
Square method is that
Important Considerations in Feed Formulation:
Among such factors to be considered in making good C One can balance for both the protein and the
feed formulation are: energy.
C It is also useful in considering more than two feed
C Acceptability to the birds: The ration being ingredients at once when balancing more complex
formulated has to be palatable enough to stimulate rations
intake by the birds. Any feed refuse by the bird is
worthless, since the feed has to be consumed by Trial-and-error M ethod: This is the most popular
birds to serve its purpose. method of formulating rations for poultry. As the name
C Digestibility: The nutrients in the feed have to be implies, the formulation is manipulated until the
digested and released into the gastrointestinal tract nutrient requirements of the birds arrived at. Trial-and-
to be utilized by the animals. For instance, rations error method can be done manually on paper or with
with high fiber content cannot be tolerated by the aid of a computer using programme like
poultry. spreadsheet e.g. Excel, Lotus123, and Quattro pro.
C Cost: The requirement of the birds can be met This method makes possible the formulation of a
through several combinations of feed ingredients. ration that meets all the nutrient requirements of the
However, when the costs of these ingredients are birds [4 ,9 ].
considered, there can only be one least-cost The limitation of this method is that; it is laborious
formulation. The least cost ration should ensure and takes more time before one will arrive at a fairly
that the requirements of the animal are met and satisfactory result.
the desired objectives are achieved.
C Presence of Anti-nutritional Factors and Toxins: Two –By-two M atrix M ethod: This method solves
This affects the digestion of some nutrients by two nutrient requirements using two different feed
making them unavailable to the birds. e.g. anti- ingredients. A 2 x 2 matrix is set and a series of
trypsin factor in soybean, meal. Some feed equations are done to come up with the solution to the
ingredients may also contain toxic substances problem [4 ].
which may be detrimental to the animal when
given in excessive amounts. The inclusion of these Linear - Programming (LP) [9 ]: This is the common
ingredients should be limited or eliminated from method of Least Cost Feed Formulation. This method
the formulation [9 ,4 ]. was first developed in 1947 by G.B. Dantzig to solve
some U.S. Air Force planning problems but now it is
M ethods of Formulating Feed: There are several widely used in all types of fields.
methods of in formulating rations; all of them have the This is a method of determining the least-cost
same objectives of providing the required balanced combination of ingredients using a series of
nutrients at the least possible cost. Some of these mathematical equations. A standard linear programming
methods are: model, in matrix form, may be stated as follows.
C It uses only two feed ingredients C cj = Cost per unit for jth ingredient
C Less consideration is given to other nutritive C xj = Quantity of jth ingredient
requirements, vitamins and minerals [7 ,9 ] C aij = Quantity of ith nutrient per unit of jth
ingredient
Simultaneous Equation M ethod: This is an alternative C bi = Requirement for ith nutrient in the diet
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J. Appl. Sci. Res., 4(11): 1596-1602, 2008
There are many possible solutions to the equations, The standard form of constraints in linear
but when the factor of cost is applied, there can only programming is as follows.
be one least cost combination [4 ,9 ].
According to the Free Online Dictionary of
Computing [3 ], Linear Programming is defined as a
procedure for finding the maximum or minimum of a
linear function where the arguments are subjects to
linear constraints.
As earlier indicated, LP is preferred for poultry subject to
feed formulation. Almost all the references consulted
uses LP technique, the reason been that variant (feed
ingredient) are not expected to change property because If a user wishes to increase the success rate of
of mixing, i.e. every unit of a least cost feed meeting the ith nutrient in the diet up to or to fall
formulated ration has the same productivity regardless below the level b i , to a probability of P > Ø i , then both
of ingredients sources [1 ]. constraints will be modified as follows
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Examples of Software That Use Stochastic M ethod will allow them to fine tune processes as they like –
in Feed Formulation: W infeeds [1 5 ] is the only like choosing between formulation method to follow,
commercial feed formulation software that uses ingredient ratio, custom palatability index etc.
stochastic method known to the authors.
Language Switch: A notable local implementation is
Design Criterials for Nigeria Oriented Feed the language switch. This will allow the software to
Formulation Software: use any Nigeria language. The language interface (very
Simplified Interface: Quite a number of the reviewed advance) will allow each graphical element description
feed formulation software has a rather cryptic interface or label to be given local language spellings and name.
from the angle of a non nutritionist. Nigeria farming Also, the output should be in the local language.
system is mostly small scale and the farmers are
usually non-expert in that field. A simplified Nigeria Time Zone: Serious automation is needed if the
oriented model is required to take away the formidable software will be universal and successful. The time and
work of formulating feeds to ones heart content using zone will allow the software to determine what period
(especially) raw material in one locality. Issues like of time or rather the season the formulation is meant
Nutrient percentages, Ingredient ratios and other for. It has being established that season has significant
expatriates terminology will not be appealing to ‘plain influence on performance of poultry [1 1 ] and perhaps
old farmer’ though educated (in another fields). other animals.
The Desired Interface Should Have These Steps as Further more, theses addition will make it user
Shown in Figure 1: friendly:
Select Animal Kind: Select the animals you want to Ability to choose between formulating for best
formulate feed for. This will make the software to performance or cheapest cost. There are situation in
determine which routine to follow in its analysis. which the animals are raised for home consumption,
This is needed as the software could be switched over cost may not be very important in this case. A typical
to work for other farm animals. At this juncture, we case are Geese force feed to make them have
need to realize that Nigerian farmer is most likely to oversized liver.
rear other animals. Therefore, a universal approach
should be used in implementing its design. Ingredient M ixing Order: Commonly, shovel or drum
mixer are used, but the order the feeds are added
Select (Available) Ingredients: The next logical step matters. A concentration of pre-mix can spell danger
is to allow the end user to select what he/she has to for the animal – such as Salt poisoning [1 3 ].
offer the animals. This requires extensive database of Finally an interface to update ingredient list.
available feed stock in Nigeria. Fortunately, the USDA The interface at this point may have an internet link to
SR20 has a major coverage of these ingredients and download updated ingredient data or upload a new
should be adopted. Also this Hand book on Energy ingredient request for analysis by the developer or
Value of Foods (Basis and Derivation) [1 2 ] will be useful agency. A simple SM S may be very useful for the
in establishing the data for a new localized ingredient. uploading as well.
Specify (Output) Quantity: This is the quantity that Other Design Factors:
is to be formulated for. A universal unit is kilogram, Local Ingredients and USDA Ingredients: The USDA
gram, pounds and ounces. But a rough estimation is SR20 has 7519 distinct food list including things like
that of the use of Bournvita, Milk and Tomato tins ‘Cassava - 11134’ with 46 analysis of the food content
(those that have standardized volume). A built in for each of these foods. There are other information
conversion mechanism will be needed as user may within this free database that can be profitably
have very poor understanding of the metric system. harnessed for the feed formulation software being
described here. T he unfortunate thing is that the locally
View (Formulated) Output: This output should be in processed form like ‘dried fufu’ will not be found
the form easily understood. For example – a Table of there. This is where the local content has to come in
number of tin of maize, number of tomato tin of salt, – remembering that we are designing software for all
number of tea spoon of Methionine. kind of ingredients available to the farmers in
Additionally, the following facility should be NIGERIA. As described under the Simplified Interface
inclusive so as to handle all ranges of people or users; section, a means of seamlessly updating the built in
The Advance M ode is meant for advance user – database is required bearing in mind that the end user
the nutritionist and knowledgeable individuals. This are likely not very literate in information technology.
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Fig. 1: A suggested interface for the Nigeria based feed formulation software
A simple solution is a regular publication in the cost fortune to acquire the knowledge to write
National Newspaper and provision of interface to enter commercial code with it. The development of the Feed
the information (as minimum as possible). formulation Software being described will have cost in
its basis for its design. The cost issue could be tackled
Extensibility - Link to Spreadsheet and ASCII files: in this manner;
Information for updating and exchange should be in a
popular format. Spreadsheet and ASCII editor are C A sponsoring agent will pay for its development
common. The Farmer especially the startup will likely and distribution
be using used computers that may not be able to run C Exotic add-on should be omitted to give attention
modern program at optimum or in real time. to functionality
C GNU free code snippet should be used to make
Data File Update: The ingredient (and nutrient) data development faster
update can be made available in simple text form and C Public domain database such as USAD SR20
send by sms, email and other electronic messaging should be used
system cheaply. The selection of plain text is to C Third party freelance individual should be
simplify transmission and readability. At this point a encouraged to provide information such as
data crunching mechanism will have to be employed to ingredient database. This effort will be rewarded
crunch much information into the 160 maximum by stamping (crediting) their names everywhere
character of a single sms (worst case of very poor their information is used.
farmer assumed – i.e. many farmers should not be C Undergraduate and post graduate student could also
expected to have internet access). contribute to coding.
Cost/ Economy: One common problem with the Visual Interpretation – Charts: Visual clue helps to
reviewed feed formulation software and all other visualize the result of the formulation. Simple bar chart
foreign software is that they are very expensive and or pie chart is sufficient.
that is even if you are able to lay hand on them
without some form of restriction. W e are neither Palatability Index and available Nutrient: Just like
talking about warez here nor encouraging its use, for human being, not all good looking foods are sweet
software development is a profession on its own; it to the mouth. Palatability is an indication of the
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willingness of the animal to go for the food. Another C Temporary file to keep formulated feed information
problem is nutrient availability, some ingredient may C Import and Export manager for advance user
show an analysis of being high in a particular nutrient C Database integrity monitor
but when eating, they are unchanged or un-extracted - C User monitor and Audit Trail Records
kind of ‘garbage-in-garbage-out’. An uninformed C Password Access control list – ACL
farmer/user can be helped out by programming this into
the ration being formulated. All the reviewed software Conclusion: Importing finished product has never
claim that the end user guides in the final decision and helped us to be independent; we need to develop our
selection. This will not work for our Nigeria own software with Nigeria as a focus. Our need is not
environment as said earlier. the other country need, our weather differs, our
resources differs as well. Nigeria has a lot of man
Design Algorithm: power to implement this software and it is suggested
Database Structure: A relational database with the that a team programmer be encouraged to work on this
following schema could be employed with projected as “nothing goes in if food has not entered first”.
fields (for future reference and expansion and backward
compatibility): REFERENCES
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