If you are an ASABE member or if your employer has arranged for access to the full-text, click the underlined title below to view.

Don't have access to the full text? Click here for options.

Our TAURUS ration formulation program has been converted to the Windows platform, and now runs under Windows 95, 98, 2000, and XP operating systems. TAURUS is intended to be used by students, ranchers, extension agents, and university faculty. The program interface consists of several screens. The ‘Animal Information Screen’ is used to enter body weight, daily gain, breed, frame, sex, age, implant, additive, temperature, mud condition, feed intake adjustment, and maintenance adjustment data. Based on these inputs, TAURUS calculates a series of nutrient requirements, which the user can add to, delete or modify, using the ‘Nutrient Constraints Screen’. The ‘Feed List Screen’ is used to choose a subset of feeds from the standard, or alternate, feed libraries. The ‘Feed Groups Screen’ is used to place a limit on a group of feeds, and ‘Ratio Constraints’ is used to place a constraint on a ratio between two nutrients, or two feeds, or two feed groups. TAURUS then formulates a least cost ration based on defined constraints and feed prices. Output consists of six parts: cost and performance, ration composition, price ranges, nutrient analysis of the ration, equations and nutrient analysis of feeds in the ration. Besides formulating a new ration, TAURUS can also evaluate an existing ration and determine over- or under-inclusion of nutrients. The ‘Profit Projection’ module of TAURUS is used to project a profit or loss in feedlot operations. This module can predict days on feed, live weight, quality grade and yield grade for up to five feeding phases. Another unique feature of TAURUS is the ‘Feed Tag’ module. This module uses the proximate analyses of a feed (i.e., crude protein, crude fiber, ether extract and ash) to calculate its metabolizable energy, total digestible nutrients, net energy for maintenance, net energy for gain, and net energy for lactation. The Windows interface provides a friendly and familiar user interface.