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 was funded by the Netherlands Government.
The Australian feed library, which is provided with 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 levels of crude protein are common in many tropical forages. For such diets it is recommended to use NDF intake (tick under DMI estimation method on the Animal tab) to predict the dry matter intake of dairy cattle in the tropics.
Data for the Tropical Feed Library was obtained from about 10 trusted published sources and currently includes about 230 feedstuffs. The library will remain the intellectual property of SNV and will be expanded and updated from time to time so please check this website regularly for updates.
Before downloading the Tropical Feed Library, it is essential to first install 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.
Once the installation is complete go to the Rumen8 folder (in your Documents folder) and create a new folder named <Shared Library>. Create a second new folder in the Rumen8 directory called <Your Surname Library>. Alternatively, you can name this folder after the farm, organisation or country you want to use it for. Download the SNV Tropical Feed Library here below and save the file SNVFeedLibrary.db3 in the folder Shared Library.
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.
Then download the empty feed library from the Cowsoko page and save it to the <Your Surname Library> folder. Rumen8 prompts the user when opening an empty feed library so it contains one feed, that the user can delete when populating <Your Surname Library>, to avoid this.
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.
To open the SNV Tropical Feed Library start the Rumen8 program which will open with the default Feed Library (usually the Australian Feed Library). Click ‘Edit’ in the left top corner menu of the Rumen8 window and then click on Edit feeds. The Feed Editor window will open. In the bottom right half of the window click on ‘Open’ under Shared Library. Move into the <Shared Library> folder you created earlier and the file SNVFeedLibrary.db3 is visible. Click on it and subsequently click on the ‘Open’ button. Then under the heading User Feed Library click the button Open and move into the folder <Your Surname Library> and open the empty FeedLibrary.db3 you downloaded earlier.
Now you can start populating your own Feed Library by clicking on the <Edit feed parameters> tab of the Feed Editor. The shared feed library cannot be edited so the feeds appear as a light grey instead of black. You must make copies of the feeds that you want to use from the Shared feed library (grey coloured text) by selecting the feed in the list and clicking the <Add Copy> button. The copy will be added to your feed library after clicking <Okay> and you will be able to make changes to it there. Alternatively, you can make a copy of the feed that you just downloaded and save it under a different name before editing its nutritive values. In that case your User library will have e.g. “Maize silage DM <> 30-35%” with the nutritive values of the Shared library and e.g. “Maize silage DM <> 30-35% Farm A” with the nutritive values of Farm A. Once you have made a copy of all the feeds that you need (black coloured text; you can always add more later) click <Select feeds> and close the Shared feed library. You can now work with your personal Feed Library (all feedstuff in black coloured text) which is also called a User Library. It can be edited according to the quality of feed available on the farm based on your observations or available feed analyses. Your User Library is now ready to be used with Rumen8. For more information we refer to the Rumen8 User Guide.
The Rumen8 software and the SNV 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 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.
Related Links
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
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)
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
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