UNEForm: a powerful feed formulation spreadsheet suitable for teaching or on-farm formulation

Abstract Feed-formulation software using linear programming is commercially available and very capable. However, for teaching and small-users commercial software packages are expensive and have an element of the ‘black box’ about them — the calculation processes are not always readily apparent. The Excel © spreadsheet described is very flexible, easily modified to suit the needs of individual users, and uses the power of modern spreadsheet software to provide excellent least-cost diet formulation. It can also be used stochastically for practical and demonstration purposes.