Feed Formulation using

Excel Solver

MK. Teknik Formulasi Ransum dan SIP

Department of Nutrition and Feed Technology

Faculty of Animal Science – Bogor Agricultural University
Website: http://intp.ipb.ac.id

Introduction
 Solver : Solver is part of a suite of commands
sometimes called what-if analysis tools.
 With Solver, you can find an optimal value for a
formula in one cell— called the target cell— on a
worksheet.

 Solver is an optimization and resource allocation

tool
 Helps you achieve a goal
 Constrains specify restriction
 Solver Options lets you specify how Solver will
attempt to find a solution
The Steps in Implementing an LP
Model in a Spreadsheet

1. Organize the data for the model on the

spreadsheet.
2. Reserve separate cells in the spreadsheet
for each decision variable in the model.
3. Create a formula in a cell in the spreadsheet
that corresponds to the objective function.
4. For each constraint, create a formula in a
separate cell in the spreadsheet that
corresponds to the left-hand side (LHS) of
the constraint.

How Solver Views the Model

 Target cell - the cell in the spreadsheet that

represents the objective function
 Changing cells - the cells in the spreadsheet
representing the decision variables
 Constraint cells - the cells in the spreadsheet
representing the LHS formulas on the
constraints
 Installing Solver for Use

 On Excel Menu,
choose
 Tools
 Add-Ins...

Installing Solver for Use

 On Excel Menu,
choose
 Tools
 Add-Ins...
 Put a Check in the
Box Next to ‘Solver
Add-in’
 Using Solver

 On Excel Menu,
choose
 Tools
 Solver
 This brings up the
Solver Parameters
box which will be
discussed next.

Feed Formulation using Solver

First Step:
The feed ingredient and nutrition composition are put on Excel
Worksheet, as following:
 Setting Up the Problem in Excel

 The Objective
Function

Setting Up the Problem in Excel

 The Objective
Function
 The Decision
Variables
(optimal values
will be calculated
by Solver)
 Setting Up the Problem in Excel

 The Objective
Function
 The Decision
Variables
 The Constraints
 Relationships

Solver Parameters
Add Constraint

Solver Solution

Example : Ransum Ayam.xls

 Solver Parameters:

The parameters in Solver Program is set up as default

and can be changed as wanted.

To change the solver parameters, as follow:

Tools Solver Solver Parameters Options.

in Solver menu, chose one or more options :

Time to process
Max Time: a running time required
Iterations, number of maximum iteration needed

Solver Options
Excel Solver: Options Button
Max time: How long Solver should work on the problem. Default 100
seconds, max 32,767 seconds (over nine hours!)

Excel Solver: Options Button

Iterations: How many iterations Solver should work.
Default = 100, Max = 32,767
Excel Solver: Options Button
Precision: How precise Solver should be working on a possible
solution against your constraints. Default = 0.000001,
Variable = 0.0000 – 1.0000

Excel Solver: Options Button

Tolerance: How precise Solver should be on meeting integer
constraints.
Excel Solver: Options Button
Convergence: Lets Solver know when to quit looking for a better
solution. Variable = 0 to 1.

Excel Solver: Options Button

Assume Linear Model: Lets Solver know you are working with a
linear model, making the solution time faster.
Excel Solver: Options Button
Assume Non-negative: Lets Solver know variables are >= 0
( this creates a constraint).

Excel Solver: Options Button

Use Automatic Scaling: Lets Solver know variables are of different
magnitudes.
Excel Solver: Options Button
Show Iteration Results: Lets Solver know to pause between iterations.
Show Trail Solutions.

Excel Solver: Options Button

Estimates: Choose Tangent or Quadratic extrapolations, try
Quadratic for non-linear optimization models.
 Excel Solver: Options Button
Derivatives: Choose Forward or Central. Default = Forward, try
Central for highly constrained calculations.

Excel Solver: Options Button

Search: Choose Newton or Conjugate. Default = Newton. Lets you
choose the algorithm for Solver to use to find the optimal solution.
Summary
 Solver is an optimization and resource
allocation tool
 Helps you achieve a goal
 Constrains specify restriction
 Solver Options lets you specify how Solver
will attempt to find a solution