Balancing Feed Rations Livestock Production 130.3(c)5D

One Minute! Write down everything you ate yesterday

Categorize the items, by the categories listed as well as junk food Categorize the items, by the categories listed as well as junk food. Which group did you eat the most food from? The least? This image portrays what a balanced diet should look like for people. Just like people animals have their own nutritional needs that must be met in order for the animal to be healthy and productive.

Ration A ration is the total amount of feed consumed in a 24 hour period A ration should provide the proper proportion of each nutrient specific to the animal’s needs

Steps to Developing a Ration Identify needs of the animal Identify available feedstuffs Calculate the amount of each feedstuff to use in the ration Check the ration against nutrient needs

Pearson Square Method used to balance the nutrient content of two feedstuffs in a ration Need to know: Nutrient requirements of animal Nutrient content of feedstuff

Example Problem Marvin wants to formulate a feed ration that provides 12% Crude Protein (CP) for his sows. On hand he has corn which contains 8.9% CP and soybean meal which contains 44.4% CP. If Marvin wants 700 lbs. of feed, how much corn and soybean meal (SBM) should he use?

Step 1: Set up the Pearson Square Feed #1 Nutrient % Part of Feed #1 Needed Nutrient % Requirement of Animal Feed #2 Nutrient % Part of Feed #2 Needed

Step 2: Fill in the Square Feed #1 Nutrient % Parts of Feed #1 Needed Corn 8.9% CP _____ parts Corn 12% CP Nutrient % Requirement of Animal SBM 44.4% CP _____ parts SBM Feed #2 Nutrient % Parts of Feed #2 Needed

Subtract diagonally: 44.4 – 12 = 32.4 Step 3: Subtract Subtract diagonally: 44.4 – 12 = 32.4 Corn 8.9% CP _____ parts Corn 32.4 12% CP SBM 44.4% CP _____ parts SBM

Step 3: Subtract Subtract diagonally: 8.9 – 12 = -3.1 No negatives! Always use absolute value 3.1 Corn 8.9% CP _____ parts Corn 32.4 12% CP SBM 44.4% CP _____ parts SBM 3.1

Add parts of each feed: 32.4 + 3.1 = 35.5 Step 4: Add Add parts of each feed: 32.4 + 3.1 = 35.5 Corn 8.9% CP _____ parts Corn 32.4 12% CP SBM 44.4% CP _____ parts SBM 3.1 35.5 Total Parts

Step 5: Convert Parts to % Formula: Parts / Whole x 100 = % Corn: 32.4 parts / 35.5 parts = .913 x 100 = 91.3% Corn SBM: 3.1 parts / 35.5 parts = .087 x 100 = 8.7% SBM Rounded to 3 places

Step 6: Convert % to Lbs. Now we need to convert the % to lbs. to find out exactly how much of each ingredient will go into the ration. We need 700 lbs. of feed for Marvin’s sows Total lbs. of ration x decimal form of feed % = Total lbs. of feedstuff Corn: 700 lbs. x .913 = 639.1 lbs. of Corn SBM: 700 lbs. x .087 = 60.9 lbs. of SBM

Step 7: Check Your Work Add up the feedstuff totals to be sure they equal the total ration amount. 639.1 lbs. of Corn + 60.9 lbs. of SBM = 700 lbs. of feed

Step 7: Check Your Work Corn (8.9% CP): 639.1 lbs. 639.1 lbs. x .089 CP = 56.9 lbs. CP SBM (44.4% CP): 60.9 lbs. 60.9 lbs. x .444 CP = 27.0 lbs. CP Add for total lbs. CP 56.9 lbs. CP + 27.0 lbs. CP = 83.9 lbs. CP Divide by total feed for nutrient requirement (83.9 lbs. CP / 700 lbs.) x 100 = 12% CP for Sows

Answer Marvin needs 639.1 lbs. of Corn and 60.9 lbs. of SBM to make 700 lbs. of feed for his sows

Algebraically .12 CP x 700 lbs. = 84 lbs. of CP required in Marvin’s sow feed .089x + .444y = 84 lbs. CP x + y = 700 lb. feed X = 639.1, Y = 60.9 X= corn Y= SBM

Practice Angela needs 300 lbs. of rabbit feed containing 12% CP. She wants to formulate a ration containing alfalfa hay at 17.1% CP and clover at 4.4% CP. How much clover and alfalfa hay should Angela use to make her feed?

Nutrient % Requirement of Animal Practice Feed #1 Nutrient % Part of Feed #1 Needed Nutrient % Requirement of Animal Feed #2 Nutrient % Part of Feed #2 Needed

Nutrient % Requirement of Animal Practice Feed #1 Nutrient % Parts of Feed #1 Needed Alfalfa 17.1% CP 7.6 parts Alfalfa 12% CP Nutrient % Requirement of Animal Clover 4.4% CP 5.1 parts Clover Feed #2 Nutrient % Parts of Feed #2 Needed 12.7 Total Parts

Practice Alfalfa: 7.6 / 12.7 = .598 x 100 = 59.8% Alfalfa 300 lbs. x .598 = 179.4 lbs. Alfalfa Clover: 5.1 / 12.7 = .402 x 100 = 40.2% Clover 300 lbs. x .402 = 120.6 lbs. Clover Check your work 179.4 lbs. Alfalfa x .171 CP = 30.68 lbs. CP 120.6 lbs. Clover x .044 CP = 5.31 lbs. CP 30.68 lbs. CP + 5.31 lbs. CP = 35.99 lbs. CP 35.99 lbs. CP / 300 lbs. = 12.00% CP

Answer Angela needs 179.4 lbs. of Alfalfa hay and 120.6 lbs. Clover to make 300 lbs. of feed for her rabbits.

Complete “Pearson Square” Worksheet Independent Practice Complete “Pearson Square” Worksheet