Formulating Feed Rations

Formulating Feed Rations Objectives • Explain formulating feed rations • Demonstrate formulating a basic feed ration. Take into consideration: • Class of livestock • Weight of the animal • Purpose of feeding • List of nutrient requirements • Feedstuffs available • Composition of feedstuffs • Calculate ration • Check your calculations!! Procedure for ration formulation • As you complete the ration, ask the following questions: • Did you correct any deficiencies? • Is it palatable/physically feasible to feed? • What was your cost per pound or ton? • List any additions or supplements you add. Why do we do it? • Formulating a feed ration is necessary because you may be feeding your animal corn with a crude protein percentage of 9, and the requirements for your animal is 12. So the corn you are feeding does not meet the requirements of your animal. • BUT! By doing a doing a feed calculation, you could add a supplement to your corn feed and increase the crude protein to meet the level required by your animal. Formulating Feed Rations • Using a Pearson’s Square: • Simple way to formulate a feed ration is by using a Pearson Square • Set up as follows: Step 1- Get your square Formulating Feed Rations cont. • Step 2: Input your information Feed #1 goes here along with its CP% CP% you want goes here Feed #2 goes here with its CP% Formulating Feed Rations cont. • Step 3: Subtract both feed sources’ CP% across the square with desired CP% Feed 1 CP% Feed 2 Formulating Feed Rations cont. • Step 4: The numbers you get after subtracting will be the parts you need of the two feeds Parts Feed 1 Feed 1 CP% Feed 2 Parts Feed 2 Formulating Feed Rations cont. • Step 5: Add the two numbers together to get the total parts for the feed ration Parts Feed 1 Feed 1 CP% Feed 2 Parts Feed 2 Total Parts Formulating Feed Rations cont. • Step 6: The parts of each feed can be expressed as a percent simply by dividing the individual parts by the total parts and multiplying by 100 • Parts of feed 1/total parts (100) = % feed 1 • Parts of feed 2/total parts (100) = % feed 2 Formulating Feed Rations cont. • Step 7: Calculate the pounds of each feed you need by multiplying your percent of feed by how many pounds of feed you need • % feed 1 x pounds of ration = total pounds needed for ration • % feed 2 x pounds of ration = total pounds needed for ration • Final Step - Check your math: • Pounds of feed 1 x original CP% of feed 1 = lbs of CP • Pounds of feed 2 x original CP% of feed 2 = lbs of CP Add together to get CP% Practice Problem: Two Feed Sources • Formulate 1000 lb. of a complete sheep diet containing 14% CP. Use corn (9% CP) and a supplement (44% CP). What’s being asked? • You are trying to formulate a ration for sheep using two supplements that, by themselves, would not meet their needs. You need to mix the feed to get the specified amount of CP and you need 1000 lbs. of the feed. Round 2! • A cow is on a feed that requires a ration containing 55% CP. The CP of the two feeds being used, corn and soybean meal, are 22% and 89%. Determine the amounts of feed necessary to form a 300 lb. ration that meets the requirements of your cow. Remember! • Remember your steps: • Step 1: Set up and label your square: the labels stay the same going across • Step 2: Subtract going ACROSS the square • Step 3: Get your total parts • Step 4: Find the % of each feed required • Step 5: Find the total pounds needed of each feed • Check your answer!!