Dear alpha testers, A newer version of the Ruminant Nutrition System (RNS) has been uploaded at http://nutritionmodels.com/rns.htm. Because this is still an alpha version (experimental), but stable, we would appreciate if you could maintain it CONFIDENTIAL at this time. Instructions to Run the Ruminant Nutrition System: "RNS for Win" (i.e. RNS) does not do main calculations and reports at this time. But, most the supply calculations are implemented in the "RNS for R". RNS for R is an R Script that contains calculations for supply and requirement of energy and nutrients performed and it is executed by R. It is slower than the RNS for Win because the RNS for R relies on the operational system to send and retrieve information between programs (RNS and R). It is much faster on x64 computers than on x86 computers. The calculation per se takes less than 2 seconds, but the delay is cause by the data transfer between programs and the OS. To execute RNS for R, create a simulation [inputs (group, animal and stage), feeds, and diet information\ then go to Tools\RNS for R, select an script, and click on the Run button. There is a Dairy Cow simulation file in My Documents\TAMU\RNS Files\Simulations you can use as an start-up point. Please note that because of this is not a release version, it is very likely that we will change the RNS file structure and you will have to re-create your work in future versions. Thus do not create large and complicated RNS files. What do you need? (A) Internet access. (B) If you don't have R installed... There are 2 ways to install R: (1) you can download and install R by yourself (http://www.r-project.org), click on the CRAN link on the left, and select the current version. Or, (2) after RNS is installed, it will check your computer for R availability and compatibility. If you do not have R installed, RNS will ask if you want to download it. After you run RNS for R for the first time, R will also download and install some additional packages that are needed by the RNS for R. (C) If you do not have Microsoft Office 2010 (or 2007) installed, you will have to download and install the Microsoft Access Database Engine 2010. We use Access 2010 to manage the feed library databases. The Microsoft Access Database Engine 2010 Redistributable package can be downloaded from the RNS webpage or from the Microsoft Download Center at http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyID=C06B8369-60DD-4B64-A44B-84B371EDE16D&displaylang=en. (D) At this time, RNS is a PC-compatible software only. So you will either have to have an IBM-PC or emulate it under Mac or Linux. What feedback do we need from you? (1). Usuability. RNS was designed to be intuitive. How easy was to create your first simulation? (2). Speed. RNS uses .NET 4. Is it faster compared to other systems? (3). Design. Was it easy to navigate through the RNS program? (4). Map screen (aka GAS = Group/Animal/Stage). Is it intuitive? (5). Ration screen. Was it adequate? (5). Compatibility. Did you have problems with installation and running RNS? (6). Other problems? (7). Wish list? Additions, Changes, and Fixes: version: 1. Fixed the growing/finishing screen. 2. Several modifications in the RNS for R report. version: 0.1.4040 (Jan 23, 2011) 1. Added levels 0 and 1 of solution to the RNS for R (Farm\Level of Solutions). 2. Improvements in the RNS for R reporting, documenting, printing, and creation of PDF (Tools\RNS for R). 3. Implemented the ability to save a feed to an user-created feed library (Feeds\"Save button"). 4. Linked sheep and goats NE to the feed library and removed CHO C kd and ID and Protein C kd and ID from the feed library. Feed libraries compressed and repaired (Feeds\Solution Levels 0 & 1). 5. Implemented the ability to compresss and repair feed libraries (Settings\Feed Libraries\Repair & Compress). To create an user-created feed library to to Settings\Feed Libraries\Management. 6. Double-click on RNS and RNSr files instruct RNS to open them automatically. 7. Added View\File Preview to view RNS for R reports. 8. Fixes in the mix calculations and reporting. version: 0.1.4035 (Jan 18, 2011) 1. Improved compatibility with Windows x64 bits. Currently, RNS is compiled for x86 only. The Microsoft Access Database Engine determines this. If you have Office 2007 or Office 2010 for 64 bits (x64) installed, you will not be able to run RNS. Please, contact me if this is the case. version: 0.1.4024 (Jan 7, 2011) 1. Created a revised ZZZ file. Copy all ZZZ files to My Documents\TAMU\RNS Files\Scripts folder. 2. Fixes in the mix calculations and reporting. version: 0.1.4019 (Jan 4, 2011) 1. Some fixes regarding inconsistencies between Lignin and peNDF reporting. RNS always uses adjusted NDF. 2. Fixes on the report of SP, NPN, NDIN, and ADIN as % of DM. 3. Added the balances for all branched-chain amino acid, if at least one is deficient. 4. Fixed the revised peptide calculation when ruminal N or BCAA was negative. 5. Removed the CPM Dairy equations of de novo syntheses of fatty acids. RNS uses the equations published by Moate et al. (2004). Some coefficients were different. 6. Fixed the calculation of DE. Only positive numbers are shown. TDN can still show negative numbers. version: 0.1.4010 (Jan 2, 2011) 1. Release of the alpha version of RNS.