How to calculate animal ratings or feed demand using the Ratings Lookup Table
Animal ratings can be calculated by accessing a lookup table. This is helpful when updating ratings based on weight assessments or pregnancy status changes.
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Click on the 'Operations tab'.
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Click on 'Livestock' to open the mob list.
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Scroll down to the bottom of the Mob/Herd List
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Click on 'Edit' in the bottom left corner.
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Click on the small question mark in the heading of the Rating/Hd column to access the Ratings Lookup Table.
This opens a Ratings Lookup Table.
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Select the 'Species' (a)
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Select the preferred 'Rating / Feed Demand' unit (b)
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Select the preferred animal weight unit (c)
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Read down the left hand side of the table until you find the row with the live weight of the animals in question.
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Read across the top of the table until you find the column with the relevant growth rate per day or pregnancy/lactation status.
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Record the animal rating that is in the cell where the column and row meet.
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Click 'Close'.
You can now update the rating you recorded from the Lookup Table in the relevant stock item. For guidance on updating ratings and weights use the Updating ratings and weights for multiple mobs help document.
The Lookup Table is also accessible from the Mob Management Page and the Stock Item History. Livestock ratings can also be edited on these pages.
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Click on the relevant Mob/ herd name (d) to open the Mob Management page
Within the Mob management page you can:
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Edit stock item ratings (e) and access the Ratings Lookup Table (f)
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Access the Stock Item History (g) to view and edit all previous ratings changes.
Alternatively, you can click here for a handy online Calculator for LSU & DSE or use the following tables:
How is daily feed demand calculated in MaiaGrazing?
Daily feed demand is calculated by MaiaGrazing using ratings that you have assigned to each class of stock in each mob/herd.
Demand = Feed demand rating X Number of animals.
How are animal feed demand ratings determined?
Animal ratings can be determined relative to a standard animal unit based on how much feed an animal of a known weight will require relative to body mass, growth rate, and reproductive status ( ie pregnant, lactating or dry).
Animal rating can also be determined by percentage intake relative to body mass but will require assessment of feed quality with stock growth rate and reproductive status in mind.
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For cattle, the standard animal unit is the Large Stock Unit (LSU). This is the feed required to maintain a 450 kg Steer with no weight gain.
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For sheep, the standard animal unit is the Dry Sheep Equivalent (DSE). This is the feed required to maintain a 50 kg wether with no weigh gain.
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When calculating demand using body-weight research indicates that stock will consume between 2% and 3% of body-weight in dry matter per day (kg/DM).
1 DSE can be approximated as equivalent to 1kg DM (dry matter) depending on feed quality, stock breed, growth rate and reproductive status.
These ratings change as body mass and productivity status changes and can be altered in MaiaGrazing to reflect these changes.