Home > Program > Developement log

     
Logo picture
       

RUMNUT version 5 development log
RUMNUT version 5 has been developed during the past few years. The following is a diary of the changes that have been made. If you would like to update your version of 5 to include these additions and bug fixes please email me and I will send you out the update program on CD-ROM. If you find any bugs or problems that are not reported here please contact me.
Winter 2006

Improved feed entry. Users can now enter feed analyses from within any module. Right clicking on a feed name brings up the full analysis for editing. Right click and drag allows feeds to be moved or copied around the feed database. The Feedman module shows four columns of feeds to make dragging and dropping more widely applicable.

New Split screen. New screen allows you to look at the ration ingredients on the left hand side and a user selectable list of overall ration assesments as found on the Supllementary, budgetting and trace element screens.

Loader sheets. When making up TMR's all ingredients should be adjusted up or down to accomodate changes in appetite. This can be done nby making a TMR for slightly fewer or more animals than are in the group. This print out shows the amount of Mecca ingredient needed for the defined number of animals in the group and for group sizes about 10% either side of this number.

Winter 2005

Improved printer control. If you have the necessary printer drivers you can now direct print outs to PDF files or even word documents.

Calculation of FME of silages. Some newer silage analyses do not specify the FME value but they often give enough information about the fat (oil) and fermentation acid content for it to be calculated. Enter U for unknown in the FME entry field and when data entry is complete a pop-up window will help you calculate the FME value.

October 2004 - version 5.1

FiM Protein system

This has been added as an extra protein system and can be accessed by clicking on the FiM button on the main ration window. Please note the following when using FiM.

  • It is designed for milking cows only - RUMNUT will switch to the MP system at yields of less than 5 liters.
  • It uses a new set of feed analysis figures as shown on the right (see enclosed feed tables for common feeds) in addition to the MP feed analysis figures. Some of these figures can be derived from other data (such as feed type and silage pH) and RUMNUT will try and do this where possible. Note that the Lysine and Methionine figures are not the same as the ones in the PDI system. Please see the Feed into Milk book (ed C Thomas, 2004, www.nup.com, ISBN 1-904761-26-7) for a full set of feed tables.
  • FiM contains new, more complex feed intake predictions that use the Forage Intake Potential of silages and other feeds to more accurately assess intakes. The equations are very sensitive to these values and so RUMNUT will warn you when values are missing.

The FiM system works in terms of Metabolisable Protein but assesses what is happening in the rumen in a different manner - especially the assessment of rumen available energy. This is shown on the main ration window as MPME (the amount of Microbial MP that could be produced if rumen available energy is limiting) and MPMN (the amount of Microbial MP that could be produced if rumen available protein is limiting).

At the bottom of the screen the MP status is displayed along with the Methionine and Lysine DSS (Decision Support System). Hovering over the DSS will show the amino acid status and the Advice system will highlight any problems if appropriate. The FiM also contains a rumen health DSS that estimates the effect of the chemical composition and feeding patterns on the rumen pH and this is shown at the bottom of the Supplementary analysis window. Note that the latter is different from the peNDF assessment as this is trying to assess the effect of the physical form of the fibre in the ration on rumen pH and milk quality.

Retrieving and storing mixes This was available in version 4.0 but it was not initially possible to include it in version 5.0. These problems have now been overcome and mixes can be retrieved and stored via the Makeamix window in the Feedman module.

Select feeds

The program has been modified such that the Home, End, PageUp and PageDown keys move you around the feed database in a logical manner. Note - the F9 and F10 keys no longer have this effect.

Pre-mixes When a ration was retrieved in which a mix was specified by using the MIX tick boxes and a mix was defined in the Makeamix window the one defined with the Tickbox took priority - this has now been sorted out.

Print out layout. Some users are still having trouble fitting everything on the page. This is disappointing as it was a key reason I re-wrote in Windows. I have been using a well behaved Hewlett Packard during development and it was only when I changed to a cheap, modern printer that the problems became apparent. If the comments will not fit on a page or the font size is too large you will get an error message. You can now alter the print outs in several ways using the options found on the File>Preferences>Printer and the File>Printer Fonts Control option

File>Preferences>Printer

  • printer font size
  • line spacing
  • Space between the feed name and the amount (Hor off-set)
  • top margin
  • bottom margin
  • side margins

File>Printer Fonts

This option gives you access to all the printer fonts that your computer can support. Please note that RUMNUT controls will over-ride any Bold and Italic settings made here. Also note that the same font size does not give the same sized print out for different fonts! If you are wanting to use a new font select a small font size (8pt) first, test the print outs and then increase the font size accordingly.

Copying and moving feeds in the database. Manipulating the feed database using the Copy and Move options is a bit cumbersome and can lead to feeds being lost. I have now added a drag and drop facility. Right click on any feed to identify it. Hold the right mouse button down to drag the name box around the screen. Drop it on another feed name location to put it in this new place. Respond to the questions asked to overwrite any existing feed and to delete the feed at the old location. Only works for the columns of feeds on the screen at the time. Can also drag feeds into a ration by the same means.

Print-out comments The user can now define, store and retrieve comments to append to print-outs. In any module ten comments are available specific to that module and ten that are common to all modules. Comments can be edited with material cut, copied and pasted between different comments.

Colour schemes. Users can already choose between black and white and RUMNUT greens. I have added the ability to set the screen colours to any combination you want. This can be used to match the screen display to your corporate colours - or to demonstrate your artistic inclinations (or more likely poor taste!!). This option is found on the File>Preferences>Display Control option.

Earlier improvements

Printing the full analysis. The Print option on the full analysis window originally just did a screen dump. This was left in the program during development and was never intended to be used as a perfect copy. Several users have asked that the print quality be improved and this has now been done for this window and the Inclusions window.

Comparing feed values Initially this feature could not be ported from version 4.0 to 5.0. This section has been completely re-written and can be selected from the main menu across the top of the main Feedman window. The display deals with one 'page' of feeds at a time showing the price, dry matter, energy and protein fractions - the latter differ according to which protein system is being used. Feed value is shown for each feed if it were to be used as a source of energy, rumen available protein or bypass protein. Value is either shown as the cost in p/MJ ME or £/kg protein or as the value of the feed in £/Tonne. Where the feed is more economical than the reference feeds the value is highlighted. Feed prices can be altered on the fly so that the break-even value of any feed can be determined and alternatives tracked down. The user can change the feed page being shown, the reference feeds, the animal definition (in the MP, USA and UK/USA systems the protein degradation will depend on the animal's production level), the milk yield and the protein system to be used for the evaluation.

Selecting protein systems.

With six different protein systems available the main ration screen can get cluttered and flicking between them all can get confusing! Users can set which protein systems are available and which is the default on start up through the Preferences screens - File>Preferences>Protein systems. If protein systems are removed from the available list they will not show up any-where during normal program operation but can be reactivated using this option.

International feed values - Price Scaling and milk pricing

All controlled via File/Preferences/Basic details

Country version

UK version does as described in manual.

Condition scoring 0-5
Milk pricing - no quota, composition based with basic
premium and seasonality

Australian
Condition scoring 0-8
Milk pricing - no quota, composition based with basic premium and seasonality

Manufacture
Condition scoring 0-8
Milk pricing - quota based on liters of percentage, excess to quota priced on Butter Fat produced.

Price scaling

UK sterling is a large unit of currency - most other currencies are worth less per unit. For example most dollars are worth less than a pound. In some countries this causes problems with range checking, displaying the price of the feeds, rations etc.

Currencies can now be displayed in six ways

x 1 If most normal feed prices in local currency from 10- 300
Eg UK sterling grass costs £18/T fresh, soya £160
Feed and ration costs shown as £n.nn, milk as nn.n p/l

x 10 If most normal feed prices in local currency from 50 - 1000
Feed and ration costs shown as £n.nn, milk as £n.nn

x 100 If most normal feed prices in local currency from 100 - 10,000
Feed and ration costs shown as £nnn, milk as £nn.nn

x 1000 If most normal feed prices in local currency from 1,000- 100,000
Feed and ration costs shown as £nnnnn, milk as £nnn

x 10000 If most normal feed prices in local currency from 10,000- 1,000,000
Feed and ration costs shown as £nnnnnn, milk as £nnnn

x 100000 If most normal feed prices in local currency from 100,000- 10,000,000
Feed and ration costs shown as £nnnnnnn, milk as £nnnnn

Problems running in Windows XP

For a while now I have been aware of a problem when running RUMNUT on some machines with Windows XP. One of the problems is that it freezes and crashes if you retrieve a ration on the second window. This may be a problem with how Windows XP has been set up to handle the program. Right Click on a RUMNUT icon to get a menu of options that starts with 'Open'. Select the bottom option - 'Properties'. Select the third tab - 'Compatibility'. Make sure that the 'Compatibility mode' and all the other tick boxes are clear then click OK and try the program again.

4 January 2004 - Developments - Full version of 5.0a
Status. Version 5.0a will be sent out to those users who have specific problems that will be addressed by the improvements listed below. Version 5.1 will incorporate the FiM system and will be sent out free-of-charge to all users of version 5.0 once it is available.

  • Retrieving and storing mixes This was available in version 4.0 but it was not initially possible to include it in version 5.0. These problems have now been overcome and mixes can be retrieved and stored via the Makeamix window in the Feedman module.
  • Pre-mixes When a ration was retrieved in which a mix was specified by using the MIX tick boxes and a mix was defined in the Makeamix window the one defined with the Tickbox took priority - this has now been sorted out.
  • Print out layout. Some users are still having trouble fitting everything on the page. This is disappointing as it was a key reason I re-wrote in Windows. I have been using a well behaved Hewlett Packard during development and it was only when I changed to a cheap, modern printer that the problems became apparent. If the comments will not fit on a page or the font size is too large you will get an error message. You can now alter the font size and type, the line spacing, the top, bottom and side margins and any top offset. These option is found on the File>Printer Fonts and the File>Preferences>Printer Control option (the latter gives better layout control).
  • Copying and moving feeds in the database. Manipulating the feed database using the Copy and Move options is a bit cumbersome and can lead to feeds being lost. I have now added a drag and drop facility. Right click on any feed to identify it. Hold the right mouse button down to drag the name box around the screen. Drop it on another feed name location to put it in this new place. Respond to the questions asked to overwrite any existing feed and to delete the feed at the old location. Only works for the columns of feeds on the screen at the time.
  • Print-out comments The user can now define, store and retrieve comments to append to print-outs. In any module ten comments are available specific to that module and ten that are common to all modules. Comments can be edited with material cut, copied and pasted between different comments.
  • Colour schemes. Users can already choose between black and white and RUMNUT greens. I have added the ability to set the screen colours to any combination you want. This can be used to match the screen display to your corporate colours - or to demonstrate your artistic inclinations! This option is found on the File>Preferences>Display Control option.
  • Printing the full analysis. The Print option on the full analysis window originally just did a screen dump. This was left in the program during development and was never intended to be used as a perfect copy. Several users have asked that the print quality be improved and this has now been done for this window and the Inclusions window.
  • Comparing feed values Initially this feature could not be ported from version 4.0 to 5.0. This section has been completely re-written and can be selected from the main menu across the top of the main Feedman window. The display deals with one 'page' of feeds at a time showing the price, dry matter, energy and protein fractions - the latter differ according to which protein system is being used. Feed value is shown for each feed if it were to be used as a source of energy, rumen available protein or bypass protein. Value is either shown as the cost in p/MJ ME or £/kg protein or as the value of the feed in £/Tonne. Where the feed is more economical than the reference feeds the value is highlighted. Feed prices can be altered on the fly so that the break-even value of any feed can be determined and alternatives tracked down. The user can change the feed page being shown, the reference feeds, the animal definition (in the MP, USA and UK/USA systems the protein degradation will depend on the animal's production level), the milk yield and the protein system to be used for the evaluation.

21 January 2004 - Bug Fix - Problems running in Windows XP

  • Retrieving rations For a while now I have been aware of a problem when running RUMNUT on some machines with Windows XP. One of the problems is that it freezes and crashes if you retrieve a ration on the second window. For a long time I have not ben able to re-create this problem on my computers and so have not been able to sort it out. I have now discovered it may be a problem with how Windows XP has been set up to handle the program. Right Click on a RUMNUT icon to get a menu of options that starts with 'Open'. Select the bottom option - 'Properties'. Select the third tab - 'Compatibility'. Make sure that the 'Compatibility mode' and all the other tick boxes are clear then click OK and try the program again.

16 March 2003 - Bug report

  • Printing boxes on print outs On some printers the box drawing routine draws a line through the title text. Box drawing can be turned off in File/ Preferences/ Printer control but the setting was not being saved with the defaults. This has now been corrected. The same applied for turning off peNDF assessments and splitting mix print outs.
  • Pre-mixes When making a mix if you included an ingredient with zero crude protein content the program crashed. This occurred when RUMNUT was working out degradability characteristics. This has been fixed by setting the protein content to 0.01 g/kg DM when the user enters zero. This may cause very small amounts of protein to appear for such feeds when used in very large amounts in a ration.
  • Printer control I had hoped that changing to Windows would solve many of the printer problems that have occurred in the past. However it seems that windows printer drivers are not as standardised as I thought. If you are having trouble with printer layout you can adjust the size of the base font (File/ Preferences/ Printer control) to better fit the page. Boxes can be turned off as well. I have added a facility whereby you can access all the fonts your printer can use (File/ Printer Fonts) and set these as the default. Some of the fonts will not be suitable but with trial and error you can improve and personalise your print outs. When you are experimenting start with a small font size (eg 8pt) and work upwards. Not all fonts take the same amount of space and you will waste paper if RUMNUT cannot fit everything on one page. Within Printer Fonts you can only set the font size to a whole number - use File / Preferences / Printer control for more precise definition of the font size.
  • Printing pre-mixes When you define a mix within a ration - as you might with a TMR - the mix analysis details do not automatically print out. Currently you have to request a copy of the mix page (last option in list) to get the pre-mix analysis. I have now altered this so that it defaults to printing one copy if a mix is currently defined in the ration.

21 Jan 2003 - Full version of 5.0 - update - minor problems fixed

  • Can now move feeds from one page to another in Feedman - previously could only move around part of database shown on screen.
  • Print-outs improved such that if only a small number of feeds in the ration the sections are better spread out over the page.
  • Selection of currency signs for screen and printer improved.
  • Sheep module added.
11 February, 2007