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 Matter 100 % 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 51.0 16.0Corn Silage 18.0 2.2Corn All Analysis 80.0 9.9Oats, all analysis 69.0 11.9Soybean Meal, 44% 76.0 44.4

Holstein Cow TDN and CP Req.1433 lb BW, 65 lbs of milk, 4% Butter fat

TDN (lbs.)

Crude Protein

(lbs) (g)

Maintenance 9.94 0.94 428

Milk Production

20.9 5.87 2,665

Total 30.84 6.81 3,093

Needs

Determining Consumption

• Cow will eat about 2 % of her body weight in forage– 2 % X 1433 = 28.66 lbs– 1.2 – 2 % of her body weight in Concentrate [ ].– Hay is 14#– Corn Silage is 14 #

• 40 X 35% (DM) = 14 #

From Forage

TDN Crude Protein (Lb.)

Alfalfa, Hay 7.14 2.24

Corn Silage 7.2 0.88

Total from Forage

14.34 3.12

Supplied

TDN CP

Needs 30.84 6.81

Forage 14.34 3.12

Remainder 16.5 3.69

Trial and Error Conc. Mix.

TDN CP

Corn, 700 # 560.0 69.30

Oats, 280 # 193.2 33.3

Monosodium Phosphate

- -

Salt - -

Total 753.2 102.60

Percent 75.3 10.3

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.)

TDN CP

Corn 525 420.0 52.0

Oats 280 193.2 33.3

Soybean Oil Meal (SBOM)

175 133.0 77.7

Monosodium Phosphate

10 - -

Salt 10 - -

Total 1000 746.2 163.0

Percent 74.6 16.3

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 = 22.63 = 22.63.

• Therefore, we feed 22.63 lbs of concentrate to meet all requirements with a little extra energy.

SuppliedLbs.

Intake

DM

(lbs)

TDN Crude Protein(CP)

Alfalfa, 90% DM

14 12.6 7.1 2.2

Corn Silage,35% DM

40 14 7.2 0.9

Conc. Mix,

90% DM

22.63 20.37 16.9 3.7

Total 76.63 46.97 31.2 6.8

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 = 8.26

15.19

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 DB – X C

TotalNeed Percentage

=

=