Ration Formulation 2/05/2001 ANS 336

1.Steps in Balancing a Ration Nutrient requirements generally represent the minimum quantity of the nutrients that should be incorporated. Factors to be considered –Age –Sex –Body Size –Type of production –Intensity of production

2.Steps in Balancing a Ration Ruminants: Determine what feeds are available and list their respective nutrient compositions –Dry matter –Protein –Energy –Phosphorus –Calcium –Vitamin A –Vitamin D if confined Non ruminants same as Ruminant, but: –Dry matter –Protein Essential AA –Energy Essential Fatty acids –Phosphorus –Calcium –Vitamin A,D, E and B complex –Minerals

3.Steps in Balancing a Ration Feed cost Processing Cost Transportation Cost Storage Cost Antioxidant Refrigeration Cost Nutritive value loss with storage

4.Steps in Balancing a Ration Balance a ration that is useable. –Can they eat that much, can they utilize that source of the ingredient. Limitation of feed ingredients –Consumption levels –Limiting values such as: amount of forage that can be consumed. –Wheat as percentage of diet –Cottonseed limitations

5.Steps in Balancing a Ration Convert to Dry Matter Basis: 1. Conversion of feed nutrients from an as fed to a dry matter basis: –a. Assume alfalfa silage analyzed 7 % crude protein on an as-fed basis and contained 40% dry matter. What percent crude protein would the alfalfa contain when expressed on a dry matter basis? The solution for this example can be obtained by the following equation: –% Nutrient ( As fed basis ) = % Nutrient (dry matter basis) % Feed Dry Matter100 % dry matter

Methods of Formulation Square Method (Pearson Square) Trial and Error Simultaneous Equation Method 2 X 2 Matrix method Computer Method WAG Method – not recommended

Feeds Available Ingredient (As Fed basis) TDN (%)Crude Protein (%) Alf. Hay, All Analysis Corn Silage Corn All Analysis Oats, all analysis Soybean Meal, 44%

Holstein Cow TDN and CP Req lb BW, 65 lbs of milk, 4% Butter fat TDN (lbs.) Crude Protein (lbs) (g) Maintenance Milk Production ,665 Total ,093 Needs

Determining Consumption Cow will eat about 2 % of her body weight in forage –2 % X 1433 = lbs –1.2 – 2 % of her body weight in Concentrate [ ]. –Hay is 14# –Corn Silage is 14 # 40 X 35% (DM) = 14 #

From Forage TDNCrude Protein (Lb.) Alfalfa, Hay Corn Silage Total from Forage

Supplied TDNCP Needs Forage Remainder

Trial and Error Conc. Mix. TDNCP Corn, 700 # Oats, 280 # Monosodium Phosphate -- Salt-- Total Percent

Needs from Concentrate Mix Divide TDN from concentrate (16.5) by the % TDN in the mixture (75.3). –16.5/0.753 = 21.9 lbs of TDN to meet energy req. Multiply 21.9 times 10.3% CP in mix –21.9 X.103 = 2.26 –3.69 (needed) – 2.26 = 1.43 still needed Substitute 175 # of SBOM to concentrate mix. In place of that amount of corn.

Trial and Error Conc. Mix. Weight (lbs.) TDNCP Corn Oats Soybean Oil Meal (SBOM) Monosodium Phosphate 10-- Salt10-- Total Percent

Trial and error - Guess 16.5 lbs /.746 = 22.1 of conc to supply 16.5 lbs of TDN 3.69 lbs protein needed/.163 of protein = = Therefore, we feed lbs of concentrate to meet all requirements with a little extra energy.

Supplied Lbs. Intake DM (lbs) TDNCrude Protein(CP) Alfalfa, 90% DM Corn Silage, 35% DM Conc. Mix, 90% DM Total

Holstein Cows consumption Cows will eat approximately 3.0 to 4.0 % of the body weight in dry matter depending on the stage of lactation. 2 % from Forage and the remainder from Concentrate mixes. Next we need to figure the NDF amount to see what level of forage she can consume. Consume. 1.2 % BW in NDF with 0.9 % from Forages and 0.3 % from Concentrates.

NDF requirements 1.2 % X 1433 = 17.2 lbs NDF 0.9 % BW from forage = 12.9 –12.6 X 55.0 = 6.93 –14.0 X 59.0 =

Pearson’ Square Simple nutrient needs are met with simple feed formulas. Lesser values are subtracted from greater values. Recorded diagonally. One feed must have a value higher than the desired value and one must have a value lower than the desired value.

X A B C D Pearson Square A – X D B – X C Total Need Percentage = =