SNV Tropical Feed Library for Rumen8
This webpage gives access to the Tropical Feed Library which can be read and used only with the Rumen8 diet formulation software for dairy cows. This Feed Library was developed by the Kenya Market-led Dairy programme (KMDP) of SNV Kenya / Netherlands Development Organization, to support introduction of Rumen8 as an advisory tool to Kenya and the East African dairy sector. Adaptation of the Rumen8 software to tropical areas and the East African context was financially supported by SNV-KMDP and VICTAM Foundation from the Netherlands. KMDP got funded by the Netherlands Government.
The Australian feed library which is provided once you register Rumen8 is not adequate for many countries with a tropical climate. Hence the KMDP project developed the Tropical Feed Library. Some of the feeds in the Tropical Feed Library are unique to Africa and are missing in the Australian library. In addition, higher levels of Neutral Detergent Fibre (NDF) and lower level of crude protein are common in many tropical forages. For such diets, NDF (tick under DMI estimation method in Rumen8 opening page) may be used by Rumen8 users to estimate the feed intake of dairy cattle in the tropics. This made the development of the Tropical Feed Library indispensable for use of Rumen8 in Africa.
Data for the Tropical Feed Library was obtained from about 10 trusted published sources and currently includes 230 feedstuffs. The library will remain the intellectual property of SNV. SNV will from time to time expand and update the feedstuffs in the Tropical Feed Library. Please check this website regularly for updates.
Before downloading the Tropical Feed Library it is recommended to install the Rumen8 software. Once the installation is complete go to the Rumen8 folder under the Rumen8 folder and create a new folder and rename this folder
SNV Tropical Feed Library for Rumen8 can be downloaded here.
The Rumen8 software including the Tropical Feed Library is provided ‘as-is’, without any express or implied warranty. In no event will the owners of Rumen8 and/or SNV Netherlands Development Organisation be held responsible and/or liable – or will accept liability - for any damages arising from the use of this software and/or the Tropical Feed Library.
The Feed Library will be saved automatically in your downloads folder.
Rumen8 software
Rumen8 is a decision making tool to assist with diet formulation for dairy cows. The correct use of Rumen8 requires nutritional knowledge so it should be used in consultation with your dairy nutritionist. The Rumen8 software can be downloaded on https://www.rumen8.com.au/ and used straight away in trial mode but is restricted to 4 diet ingredients until one has registered. Registration is free.
To apply for a registration number please send an email to support@rumen8.com.au with your name (given names and surname) and the email address you would like to be contacted on. By informing Rumen8 where you are based (country and region) and your role in the dairy industry, you are assisting us to improve the software in the future. Your email address will not be shared with third parties. For current users: Rumen8 version 3 can be registered with your Rumen8 version 2 username. If you have lost it send an email to the email address above.
Download the Rumen8 Software
The Rumen8 software including the Tropical Feed Library is provided ‘as-is’, without any express or implied warranty. In no event will the owners of Rumen8 and/or SNV Netherlands Development Organisation be held responsible and/or liable – or will accept liability - for any damages arising from the use of this software and/or the Tropical Feed Library.
Computer requirements
Rumen8 runs on computers with Microsoft Windows 7, 8.1 and 10 computers and needs a minimum screen resolution of 1024 x 768. Other than that, if your computer can run Windows adequately it should run Rumen8.
Easy formulation of dairy cow diets
Rumen8 allows farmers and consultants to easily manage dairy cow and heifer diets to increase produc-tion and reduce costs. An emphasis on ease of use sets it apart from many other nutrition applications which makes it ideal for quickly creating or checking cow diets by farm managers, owners and visiting nutritionists. Rumen8 provides an easy interface allowing creation and adjustment of diets while exploring changes in production and margins.
More sophisticated nutrition models of dairy cow nutrition are available but these are generally expensive, require a higher level of user knowledge, depend on less readily available and more expensive feed analyses, and require more time to use which restricts their usefulness on farm.
Rumen8 has been used by the Australian developers for 20 years to manage the diets of research herds and commercial herds and has been shown to provide good predictions of nutritional performance. The developers have been closely involved in piloting the Rumen8 software in Kenya and made many adjustments and improvements to the software to fit the East African context and needs.
What does Rumen8 do?
Rumen8 allows the user to design a diet from up to 15 feeds or feed mixes to best meet dietary needs. Multiple diets can be stored and compared and the difference between feed costs and returns from milk sales is calculated. Reports can be printed or saved as PDF files.
Rumen8 uses published nutrition models that we found accurate over many years of use on farms and research centres. We have found that Rumen8 provides a good balance between ease and speed of use and performance that is fitting for the different dairy farming systems, including pasture-based systems.
A warning before you start
Like any cow nutrition software, it is possible to create a balanced diet in Rumen8 that will reduce cow performance or even adversely affect the cow’s health. For this reason, we strongly recommend Rumen8 is used by/with your nutritionist.
Terms and conditions (disclaimer)
The Rumen8 software and the Tropical Feed Library are provided ‘as-is’, without any express or implied warranty. In no event will the owners of Rumen8 and/or SNV Netherlands Development Organisation be held responsible and/or liable – or will accept liability - for any damages arising from the use of this software and/or the Tropical Feed Library.
While all reasonable efforts have been taken to ensure the accuracy of the Rumen8 application and the Tropical Feed Library, use of the information so provided is at the user’s own risk. To the fullest extent permitted by Australian, Dutch and international law, Western Dairy, Dairy Australia, the developers of Rumen8 and SNV Netherlands Development Organisation, disclaim all liability for any losses, costs, damages and the like sustained or incurred as a result of the use of - or reliance upon - the information provided, including liability stemming from reliance upon any part which may contain inadvertent errors, whether typographical or otherwise, or omissions of any kind.
KMDP-II Intervention Areas:
1. Practical Skills and Farm Management
Related Links
Practical Skills and Farm Management
2. Feed and Fodder
KMDP has built up rich knowledge and experience as regards good practice forage production and preservation for smallholder, medium and large scale dairy farms (from seed to feed). In addition to that, it has successfully piloted commercialization of quality forages and of forage contracting services. This was achieved through the SPEN model and the concept of “maize train” (i.e. mechanized agricultural contracting services for maize production, harvesting and silage making), and by facilitating introduction of innovative machinery for making baled silages. Through replication and upscaling, this will ensure enhanced access of quality forages for small medium and large-scale dairy farms.
In 2018 KMDP-II also started a pilot on introduction of feed rationing software to help optimizing total rations and margin over feeds. KMDP participates in sector platforms that discuss forage availability in Kenya and supported the National Fodder Conference in Nakuru in December 2017 and the Animal Production Society in Nanyuki in March 2018Related Links
Feed and Fodder
3. Milk Quality
KMDP-II works with 17 dairy cooperative societies and 3 milk processors (Meru Dairy Cooperative Union, Happy Cow Ltd and Bio Foods Ltd) on a number of issues related to milk production, collection, bulking and marketing; service provision and governance & management. The interventions on milk quality range from more generic to specific in terms of piloting innovations and policy lobbying. On the generic level milk collectors, transporters and graders of dairy cooperatives are trained and policies are being developed and implemented at cooperative level at all 17 cooperatives. Next to this KMDP has a targeted approach where it supports Happy Cow Ltd from Nakuru and two of the cooperatives that supply the processor with milk, with implementing a milk quality tracking & tracing system and a quality based milk payment system. At policy level KMDP-II works with the Kenya Dairy Board (KDB) and the Kenya Dairy Processors Association (KDPA), where it supports the safe milk campaign and strategic planning
Related Links
Implementation of a quality-based milk payment (QBMP) system in Kenya 3R Kenya Project Research Brief)
Milk Quality
4. Functional Dairy Value Chains
KMDP-II (as in KMDP-I) promotes and support within the partnerships it has with processors (3) and dairy societies (17) so-called functional dairy value chains, characterized by formal and inclusive relationships between farmers, dairy societies and processors with inclusion of youth and women. Important drivers for such relationships are trust and loyalty, timely payment, fair and stable prices and provision of quality services from the processor to the dairy society to the farmer. This includes services provided in-house and partnerships with private input and service providers. These services should be geared towards enhancing productivity at the farm level, and efficiency & quality in raw milk collection and marketing. As this will contribute to enhanced profitability and sustainability of the dairy enterprise and the industry as a whole.
Functional dairy value chains are also characterized by a stable and conducive relationship of dairy value chain actors and input/service providers with policy makers and regulators. Be it at the level of Counties or national government. With a common vision on how to address systemic bottlenecks for sector growth and competitiveness. At this level KMDP supports Kenya Dairy Board and Kenya Dairy Processors Association, the latter with strategic plan development. KMDP also participates in national forums for feed & fodder, milk quality and TVET (practical skills development).Related Links
Functional Dairy Value Chains
5. International Linkages
KMDP promotes and facilitates international knowledge exchange, business linkages and other partnerships for learning and exchange. This is seen as an important condition for fast-tracking adoption of good agricultural practices and innovations that are necessary to enhance the competitiveness of the sector, its long term sustainability and its attractiveness for investors. KMDP-II will continue to organise and support investors’ forums, dairy trade fairs and exhibitions, market studies/scans, international study tours and trainings, and most importantly business-to-business linkages (B2B). B2B linkages and partnerships are considered as a more sustainable way of promoting change, innovations and best practices than aid-relationship are, as they are market-led and will continue as long as there is demand for the products and services. KMDP-I and II have been successful in forging B2B linkages between Kenyan and Dutch input suppliers and service providers, and assisted others with setting up base in Kenya and investing in the sector. This is partly facilitated through KMDP-II’s Innovation & Investment Fund which is the successor of KMDP-I’s Innovation Fund
Related Links
Eldoret Dairy Investor Forum KMDP-II Innovation & Investment Fund Charter
