The science of calculating the energy available to livestock fromvarious feeds has taken another step forward with the recent creation of "Feedtag," a computer program developed by UC Davis animal scientist John R. Dunbar, UC farm advisor Monte Bell and computer programmer Abbas Ahmadi. Feeds were grouped into the five classes acknowledged by international standards -- dry forages, pasture and range plants, silages, energy feeds and protein supplements. "With a quick statistical analysis," Dunbar says, "the program will provide reasonable energy values of feedstuffs, and information that will be useful in formulating diets for sheep, beef and dairy cattle." Development of the new program was discussed during the August annual meeting of the American Society of Animal Science at the University of Wyoming.