NASCalf Getting Started
Hello and welcome to NASCalf. In this video demonstration, we’ll cover how to enter data, interpret results, save your work, and where to find additional help. Along the way, we’ll look at output windows, the main menu, nutrient grids, reporting features, and support resources.
Once you’ve downloaded the program and opened it from your desktop, you’ll reach the first screen, which is the scientific screen. Notice 2 tabs in the lower left corner, scientific and performance. The Scientific tab is the default and provides detailed simulation data, while the Performance tab presents the same results in a simpler, more summarized format. You can switch between these views at any time, depending on how much detail you want to see.
Across both tabs, the main menu stays the same. This is where most of the data entry and reporting takes place. On the left and center sides of the menu, you’ll enter feeding programs for liquids, grains, and forages.
On the right side, you’ll find output related to minerals, amino acids, diagnostics, and reporting. You can also update calf characteristics, such as birth weight, mature weight, and target gains, using the Farm and Calf menu, and adjust model behavior through the Settings menu.
The Settings menu includes switches that control internal calculations and visual indicators within the program. You can also change the appearance of the interface, including switching color palettes if you prefer a darker display. The reporting menu allows you to enter farm information and generate reports that can be saved to a file or sent directly to a printer. NASCalf includes detailed output for minerals, amino acids, and diagnostics.
Mineral screens show both macro and micro minerals with clear comparisons of intake versus requirements.
The amino acid screen focuses on the hypothetical supply and requirements for individual amino acids. This is an extension of the 2021 NASM amino acid model for adult ruminants and is for research purposes.
Diagnostic tools provide a wide range of reports, either for a single day or across the entire four-month simulation period. Each of these areas has dedicated screens and will be covered in more detail in separate training videos.
At the core of NASCalf are the nutrient grids. There are three main grids, for liquids, grains, and forages. Each grid has two views. The composition view shows nutrient values with up to 54 nutrients available, though only a limited number are displayed by default.
The feeding program view defines how feeds are offered over time, including quantities, costs, and limits. You can edit nutrient values directly in the grid, or use the built-in calculator by right-clicking, entering values, and then pasting them into the appropriate cells.
The liquid feeding program is especially flexible. It allows up to 20 feeding periods with columns for start day, end day, and grams fed per day. This makes it easy to combine colostrum, transition milk, and milk replacer in a single program. For example, you might feed 6 liters of colostrum on day one, transition milk on days two and three, then switch to milk replacer starting on day four. As weaning approaches, milk replacer can be tapered down via multiple periods or steps. As you adjust values, NASCalf recalculates feeding periods and nutrient intake in real time.
Grain and forage feeding programs follow a similar structure. For grains such as calf starter or grower, you can set costs, feeding duration, and maximum daily intake. For forages like straw, you can also set intake as a percent of total dry matter.
Feeding program screens can be accessed either through buttons in the nutrient grids or directly from the main menu.
NASCalf’s output includes detailed graphs and tables that help you interpret results. Mineral output shows intake versus requirements visually. Amino acid output displays intake, requirements, and supply adjusted for digestibility.
Simulation reports offer multiple formats and charts to track growth and nutritional status over time.
Saving your work is straightforward. NASCalf files are stored in your Documents folder in the NASCalf Version 1 folder and are saved in a CSV format. To save a file, simply click File and then Save from the main menu. You can accept the default name, which includes today’s date, or rename the file to track different simulation versions. Saved files can be reopened or renamed at any time. Help is available throughout the program.
Most windows include help buttons, and the help menu links directly to the NASSCAF online documentation.
This video should give you a solid foundation for using NASSCAF. We hope it helps you get started and puts you on track to improve calf growth, health, and feeding efficiency. Be sure to explore the help system and additional training videos to get the most out of the program. Thanks for watching.
