THE USE OF COMPUTER IN RATION FORMULATION IN 2000 A.D AND BEYOND

Abstract

Commercial livestock production has continued to undergo structural changes brought about by various factors such as economic, Environmental,' marketing dynamics etc. The latest changes taking place are mainly due to economic recession which has affected the cost of feed thereby resulting in diminishing margins in livestock farming. It is a/ general knowledge in the industry that feed is the single highest cost item in livestock production. Market reveals that it constitutes 70% - 80% of the total cost of production in any livestock enterprise. In view of this, farmers started exploiting various avenues to reduce cost and maximize profit. To meet the challenges of this time, most farmers embark on backward integration by producing feed. While well capitalized farmers went into direct production in their farms. Others who could not afford the cost of installation of mills and bulk purchase of raw materials patronize toll millers for the production of their feed. Increased efficiency and profitability in this period will therefore depend on the knowledge and application of improved feed formulation. While some commercial feed tillers and toll millers have taken advantage of computer formulation to achieve this objective, other (millers and farmers) depend on amended computer formula. However, in the years ahead, the urge for the use of computer will assume a higher dimension. This presentation will therefore address, the current status and what the years ahead hold in stock for feed formulation with the use of computer packages.