Inaugural ASAS–CAAV Asia Pacif ic Rim Conference Abstracts

T276 Simple least-cost ration formulation for small beefcattle operations in China. M. A. Brown* 1 , J. P. Wu 2 , J. W. Holloway 3 , and Y.S. Peng 2 , 1 USDA-ARS, Grazinglands Research Laboratory, El Reno, OK, USA,2Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, Gansu, P. R. China, 3 Texas Agrilife,Uvalde, TX, USA.Feed costs are a significant portion of total costs in production of beef cattle andclosely related to profitability. Further, it is critical that nutrients in rations areadequate to meet the nutritional requirements of cattle in small beef operationswithout being in excess. There are several software packages available forlarger commercial beef cattle operations but there are few available for smallerproducers. A program was developed using widely available spreadsheetsoftware with the objectives of balancing rations for CP, energy, calcium,and phosphorus while minimizing the ration costs per kilogram of DM. Feedingredients commonly available in the United States and China were includedusing NRC tabular values for CP, TDN, net energy, calcium, and phosphorusfor each ingredient. Equations for computation of estimated DM intake, ADG,and cost of gain were included for various classes and weights of feedercattle using NRC formulae. The program accurately balanced rations for CP,energy, and minerals, independent of the number of feed ingredients included.However, as number of feed ingredients available for consideration by theprogram increased, the accuracy of least-cost solutions decreased. Restrictionof numbers of ingredients considered by the program resulted in more accurateleast-cost solutions. It appears that the program is useful in balancing rationsand can give least-cost solutions with properly limited ingredients included forconsideration. It has utility in risk analysis by considering changes in pricesof ingredients. Evaluation of the program suggests that, with some training, itcould be a useful tool for owner/operators of small beef operations.Key Words: beef cattle, ration formulation, least costT277 Bilingual teaching in animal science. Z. Li* and Q. J.Pan, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, Shandong Province, China.In today’s competition, cooperation, communication, and demand for livestockand animal products on a global basis, it becomes increasingly importantfor higher agricultural education in countries like China defining English asa foreign language that we provide our animal science students with collegecourses taught in a bilingual way. The biggest challenge for doing so is the lack ofbilingual teachers with internationalized outlooks on animal science education.The Animal Science Department of the Qingdao Agricultural University hasduring the past 8 yr recruited teachers studying abroad and encouraged teachersteaching core courses to go to high-level universities and institutes overseasfor periods of academic visit by provincial and national financial support. Thecountries teachers have visited include the United Kingdom (2), United States(3), Japan (4), Russia (2), Yugoslavia (1), and Australia (2), and more countriessuch as Denmark, the Netherlands, and New Zealand have been planned asfuture visiting destinations for having them well trained. The bilingual teachingwas performed by means of teaching classes in English (about 80%) more thanin Chinese and using English-edition textbooks as well as materials organizedby teachers. Generally, the majority of the courses taught in a bilingual way havebecome more and more attractive and have been evaluated as model classesand appreciated by college students and undergraduate students. There is noquestion about the value and rewards of encouraging college teachers to studyabroad and to teach in a bilingual way after their return. Admission to graduateschool and being recruited by international corporations or joint ventureshave been greatly upgraded by students’ improved academic communication,application ability, and English level.Key Words: bilingual teaching, animal science78