Animal Module
The Animal Module simulates each animal within the herd every day for the length of the simulation. In order to sufficiently simulate a herd, there are many inputs in the animal module covering herd performance and management. Because this module houses all the animals, it is responsible for the initial generation of manure and the associated emissions.
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What does it do?
The animal module is in charge of simulating individual animal’s daily activities within the herd. The module covers the lifecycle classes of a dairy bovine: ​​
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Calving.
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Growing heifers.
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Breeding.
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Drying off.
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Herd exits.
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What inputs do I need?
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Herd demographics
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Number of animals by grouping.
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Breed and body weight.
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Milk production and composition.
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Reproduction
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Reproductive programs.
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Conception rates.
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Age & DIM cutoffs.
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Stillborn rates.
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Production associated culls
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Probabilities of culling and parity distributions.
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Ration
How does it work?
The RuFaS animal module simulates the lifecycle of dairy animals, from birth through lactation. Animals are grouped by class into user-defined pens, which influence housing conditions, energy needs, and link to feed and manure systems. ​
Milk production is based on Wood’s lactation curve and influenced by ration quality. Users can input total annual milk or let RuFaS simulate it.
The module is connected to Manure and Feed Storage Modules to better predict efficiency, enteric methane emissions using IPCC default equations, with optional alternatives and feed additives.
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What outputs can I expect?
Key outputs of interest include: ​
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Herd demographics.
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Milk Production.
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DMI and feed efficiency.
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Enteric methane.
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Manure nutrients (N, P, volatile and total solids).
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Manure housing emissions.
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Feed emissions.
