The feed baskets have been compiled for the four different production regions in South Africa. The purpose was mainly to measure the movement in feed costs. The feed baskets may therefore be used as a benchmark for feed costs and ration formulation.

The feed costs per cow and per litre of milk can also be monitored.

The prices of raw materials for the Highveld are determined at Randfontein, for KwaZulu-Natal at Pietermaritzburg, for the Eastern Cape at Port Elizabeth and for the Western Cape at Cape Town. Differences in transport costs can easily be calculated from these centres.

Regional formulation is done with average feed values accumulated over many years. We use available feed components that are normally fed in the regions.

Formulations are done for a cow in the highest production group of 3rd lactation or more. Three different production averages (20 litres/day, 30 litres/day and 40 litres/day) are used. A CPM programme (Cornell, Penn, Miner) was used for formulations for each of the four regions.

The CPM programme is used worldwide and formulation in the model is done according to the latest NRC standards. Optimal balancing is the key to avoiding shortages or wastage of nutrients.

The cow represents the group. Her mass is always 700 kg, she is 160 days in milk and has a BCS (body condition score) of 2,8 on a scale of 5. She produces milk at 3,7% BF and 3,2% PR.

It is common practice to formulate for this group and then to feed the ration to the rest of the herd. Younger groups consume less, thus maintaining the balance of the ration.

It is also important to note that the formulations were prepared for an average South African cow. In certain production areas and especially in individual herds, the average cow in the highest adult production group may weigh more or less than the indicated 700 kg. Allowances have to be made for these differences when looking at individual herds.

Other factors that were ignored include heat stress, differences in production systems and other factors that could affect feed consumption and needs. The figures can also be adapted for different breeds. Basically, a ration using the most readily available components was formulated for the same group of cows at Randfontein, Port Elizabeth, Pietermaritzburg and Cape Town.

As environmental conditions change, feed costs will vary considerably between regions and from year to year. We work on average costs and current market values, and there may be difference within regions. The costs are calculated quarterly.

Freely available feed components are used and quotes are obtained monthly or quarterly from up to five wholesalers per item.

Because the feed baskets have been formulated with components produced or purchased mainly in the regions, we have tried to use all the components in one feed basket. Because the baskets are based on averages, this obviously means that it would be possible to formulate the feed baskets with other components or at a lower cost within the various regions and even from farm to farm. These examples simply provide a fully balanced guideline for benchmarking purposes.

The CPM programme and feed cost calculations are complicated and cumbersome, but details are available on request. Clover Industries Limited (CIL) has the full programmes for all the calculations at its disposal.

The Feed Baskets were compiled under instructions from the CIL Directorate by the Management Advisory Committee (MAC), a committee of the CIL Directorate, and are the property of CIL. We would like to acknowledge the contribution of Dr Kobus Hendriks, Chairman of the MAC, who compiled the feed baskets with the assistance of FarmVision and other consultants. The representatives on the Directorate from the Eastern Highveld, Western Highveld, KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern and Western Cape, as well as the Director Agri Services and Transport and the General Manager Milk Procurement, are thanked for their inputs, which will help to continuously update the Feed Baskets, especially with regard to costs.

CIL would like to emphasise that these formulations were done on the CPM programme and that CIL can not be held responsible for anything resulting from the use and inplementation of the rations. CIL also acknowledges the authors of the CPM programme.