342 Waters Halls, Department of Agricultural Economics College of Agriculture, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66505
Small scale livestock producers often struggle with feed formulation software available for optimizing their feed and ration cost because most software available to them either require high premium subscription costs or not flexible to alter to meet their needs. This research presents a least cost dairy ration formulation plan for dairy producers using the Microsoft Excel “Solver add in” tool. Mathematical programming models were developed to formulate rations for lactating cows, putting into consideration the upper and lower inclusion limits for crude protein, metabolizable energy, calcium, and phosphorus. This research shows formulating ration for lactating diary after attaining the nutritional requirements is $24.61/100kg. The results illustrated that inclusion levels of Alfalfa Hay, Corn Silage, Corn, Wheat Bran, Soybean Meal, Dicalcium Phosphate and Cattle Salt can be seen as 8kg, 35kg, 27.8764kg, 5kg, 22.671kg, 0.8667kg and 0.34kg respectively. This feed formulation method can be recommended for use by small scale dairy farmers as well as livestock extension workers who wish to formulate least cost ration as it requires no premium subscriptions like most commercial feed formulation software. Feed ingredients and prices can be adjusted based on the market prices of feed ingredients in their locality.
A presentation that focuses on the evolution of the Construction Industry in the last 15-20 years from traditional means and methods towards the latest advancements in “digital transformation” – the progressive change towards digitization of design and construction practices for the modern era – and how this impacts the built environment all around the world.
A new class of biopesticides, RNAi biopesticides, promise to arm farmers with a new mode-of-action for insect pest and fungal pathogen control that is effective and environmentally benign. Until now, widespread development and commercialization of RNAi biopesticides has been held back by lack of scalable, low-cost technologies for production of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA), the active ingredient of RNAi biopesticides. RNAissance Ag has addressed the dsRNA production challenge through development of a simple, scalable high dsRNA yielding microbial system. The proprietary technology involves co-expression of E.coli phage MS2 coat protein along with hairpin RNA under the control of coliphage T7 promoter. The MS2 coat protein protects the transcribed hairpin RNA from cellular nucleases, allowing for large-scale accumulation of dsRNA inside E.coli cells. Fermentation dsRNA yields of up to 11.3g/L were obtained for a 294 bp-long dsRNA with minimal media. Such high dsRNA yields have the potential to reduce dsRNA production costs and enable development of RNAi biopesticides that are cost-competitive with existing pesticides – and as effective. This production technique promises to usher in a new generation of RNAi-based pest control products capable of safely, and selectively targeting some of the most difficult agricultural pests.
Many believe technology is disrupting traditional industries (and not in a good way). Learn how design thinking, agile execution, and an innovation culture can serve as the antidote to helping customers and companies thrive. This session is for any founder, student or employee who wants to be inspired and walk away with actionable ways to innovate.
342 Waters Halls, Department of Agricultural Economics College of Agriculture, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66505
Small scale livestock producers often struggle with feed formulation software available for optimizing their feed and ration cost because most software available to them either require high premium subscription costs or not flexible to alter to meet their needs. This research presents a least cost dairy ration formulation plan for dairy producers using the Microsoft Excel “Solver add in” tool. Mathematical programming models were developed to formulate rations for lactating cows, putting into consideration the upper and lower inclusion limits for crude protein, metabolizable energy, calcium, and phosphorus. This research shows formulating ration for lactating diary after attaining the nutritional requirements is $24.61/100kg. The results illustrated that inclusion levels of Alfalfa Hay, Corn Silage, Corn, Wheat Bran, Soybean Meal, Dicalcium Phosphate and Cattle Salt can be seen as 8kg, 35kg, 27.8764kg, 5kg, 22.671kg, 0.8667kg and 0.34kg respectively. This feed formulation method can be recommended for use by small scale dairy farmers as well as livestock extension workers who wish to formulate least cost ration as it requires no premium subscriptions like most commercial feed formulation software. Feed ingredients and prices can be adjusted based on the market prices of feed ingredients in their locality.
A presentation that focuses on the evolution of the Construction Industry in the last 15-20 years from traditional means and methods towards the latest advancements in “digital transformation” – the progressive change towards digitization of design and construction practices for the modern era – and how this impacts the built environment all around the world.
A new class of biopesticides, RNAi biopesticides, promise to arm farmers with a new mode-of-action for insect pest and fungal pathogen control that is effective and environmentally benign. Until now, widespread development and commercialization of RNAi biopesticides has been held back by lack of scalable, low-cost technologies for production of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA), the active ingredient of RNAi biopesticides. RNAissance Ag has addressed the dsRNA production challenge through development of a simple, scalable high dsRNA yielding microbial system. The proprietary technology involves co-expression of E.coli phage MS2 coat protein along with hairpin RNA under the control of coliphage T7 promoter. The MS2 coat protein protects the transcribed hairpin RNA from cellular nucleases, allowing for large-scale accumulation of dsRNA inside E.coli cells. Fermentation dsRNA yields of up to 11.3g/L were obtained for a 294 bp-long dsRNA with minimal media. Such high dsRNA yields have the potential to reduce dsRNA production costs and enable development of RNAi biopesticides that are cost-competitive with existing pesticides – and as effective. This production technique promises to usher in a new generation of RNAi-based pest control products capable of safely, and selectively targeting some of the most difficult agricultural pests.
Many believe technology is disrupting traditional industries (and not in a good way). Learn how design thinking, agile execution, and an innovation culture can serve as the antidote to helping customers and companies thrive. This session is for any founder, student or employee who wants to be inspired and walk away with actionable ways to innovate.
