


The Heifer Module is a calendarized or lifecycle approach that can go back to a baby calf and be utilized through the third trimester of the first pregnancy to do developing heifer rations. Included is a modifiable feed library, which replaces previous ISU cow program MCS 13. The Beef Cow Module uses criteria like condition score, production stage, breed type, weather conditions, and feedstuff utilization to determine if nutritional demands of the herd are met. Quick Notes regarding BRaNDS Setup and Use BRaNDS modules and information BRaNDS 0100: Standard Cow and Heifer Edition The formulation of the diet is essentially the same, but the climate defaults values and feed library default values are a little different. All these defaults can and should be updated to your location and situation so the state version is not critical unless you do not want to change the defaults. The standard edition is a bit more flexible across computer platforms and only requires that the computer you use has MS Excel installed. The professional version requires that Windows and Excel be installed on the computer used to operate the program.Īs you will see there are different states associated with the different versions. Supplement and other batch mixing apart from the formulated ration.Long range projection on what a series of rations will produce in a given growing animal.The ability to maintain a catalogue of producers within the same program.The ability to draw ingredients from multiple feed libraries.The professional version provides some additional features such as: Allow reports on feed mixing, diet results, and what is still needed in the supplement report.Take into account changes in digestibility brought on by rumen pH and other nutrient interactions.Allow in-vitro NDF and dry matter digestibility data to be incorporated for a more accurate estimate of feed energy.Provide both the results of the formulation as well as the projected cost per pound gain and cost per day.Allow for formulation of metabolizable protein, net energy, effective fiber, minerals and vitamins.Allow you to change the default feed nutrient values with your own feed’s nutrients.

There are both professional and standard editions to the program. Both versions: What exactly does BRaNDS show you? View a report output sample. Other support is available through the Iowa Beef Center. The software comes with written and video tutorials to assist in the use of the program. The guidelines are taken from the 2016 NASEM publication on the Nutrient Requirements of Beef Cattle and some additional peer reviewed research that contributes to this cause. The BRaNDS software is designed to assist you in the formulation of rations for beef cattle. Beef Ration and Nutrition Decisions Software (BRaNDS)
