BAE Department - University of Kentucky

This program analyzes the costs and returns for investing in a total mixed ration (TMR) feed mixing and delivery system on a dairy not presently utilizing a TMR feeding system. The values which are already filled are default values. You can change these values according to your own situation.
 
Current Size Characteristics    
   Herd size
Milking cows
   Rolling herd average
lbs/cow-yr
   Milk price, 3.5% butterfat
$/cwt
Expected Benefits Of TMR
 
   Expected production increase
%
   Expected reduction in feed wastage
%
Feed Information
 
   Average daily feed cost (forages and all other feeds)
$/cow-day
   Tons of concentrate fed annually
tons/cow-yr
   Concentrate feed cost
$/ton
   Estimated savings on concentrate
$/ton
   Service fee for nutrition consulting
$/cow-mo
 
TMR
 
   Mixer Size
cubic ft
Tractor    
   Current cost to operate feeding tractor
$/hr, current
   Cost to operate tractor with TMR
$/hr, TMR
Storage    
   Cost of grain/supplement bin
 
   Cost of commodity shed
 
Processing    
   Cost of roller mill/grinder mixer
 
   Cost of mixer wagon with scales
 
   Cost of handling/conveying equipment
 
   Cost of hay processor
 
   Electricity cost, cents/KWH
 
Renovation    
   Cost of additional bunk space
 
   Fence panels cost
 
   Other costs related to facility renovation
 
 
   Number of feeding groups
 
   Number of feedings/day
 
   Hourly rate for labour
$/hr
   Hours of labor per load, current system
 
   Hours of labour per load, TMR system
 

 
GROUP SIZE (milking cows)
Number of Feedings Per Day
20
40
60
80
100
1
100
200
300
400
500
2
50
100
150
200
250
3
33
67
100
133
167
 
Mixer Size ft3
1Assumes 50 lbs D.M. per cow per day. Feed ration weighs 20 lbs/ft3 at 50% MC. Approximately 5.0 ft3 per cow per day.

 

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Adapted By Original Web Version
Jose R Bicudo
L. W. Turner, D.G. Overhults, D. Amaral-Phillips and J. Zulovich
 Gaurav Rajput
University of Kentucky University of Kentucky University of Kentucky

Updated 06/22/2005

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This page is part of the Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering web at http://www.bae.uky.edu