Balancing Feed Rations: Pearson Squares

The Pearson square or box method of balancing rations is a simple procedure that has been used for many years. It is of greatest value when only two ingredients are to be mixed. In taking a close look at the square, several numbers are in and around the square. Probably one of the more important numbers is the number that appears in the middle of the square. This number represents the nutritional requirement of an animal for a specific nutrient. It may be crude protein or TDN, amino acids, minerals or vitamins.

Sample Problem
Formulate 600 lbs of a 26% CP ration using CSM (54% CP) and Barley (8% CP).

Whats Being Asked?

You have 2 different feeds on hand, each containing a certain amount of protein. But for your purposes, neither will suffice. You need to mix them to make a new feed of a specific amount protein. And you need to make 600 lbs of the new feed.

Solving..using a Pearson Square

These types of problems are easy.but you have to use the Pearson Square.
1st set up the square (this will be the same every time:

 2nd, label the square:

Feed #1 goes here With its %CP The %CP you want goes here Feed #2 goes here With its %CP

Feed #1 also goes here

Feed #2 also goes here

This is what it should look like:

CSM 54% CSM

26%

Barley 8%

Barley

 3rd, some simple subtractionone feed at a time.

Subtract going diagonally: #1. CSM (54) 26 = 28% Barley:

CSM 54% 26%

CSM

Barley 8%

28 parts Barley

 4th, do the same calculation for the second feed.

Subtract on the other diagonal: Barley (8%) 26 = -18 % CSM. But just use the absolute value.ignore the negative sign:
CSM 54%

18 parts CSM 26%

Barley 8%

28 parts Barley

 5th, add up total parts CSM and Barley for the new feed:
CSM 18%
26% +

CSM 54%

Barley 8%

Barley 28% 46 total (18 + 28 = 46)

Wait.Whats going on?

We just calculated what percent of our new ration will be CSM and Barley: of the total amount of new feed, it will be 28 parts Barley and 18 parts CSM. Now we have to determine how many pounds of each this correlates to. Once we know that, we can mix our feeds together.

 So from the square, we know that in our final feed we need:

28 parts Barley 18 parts CSM

We also know from the problem that we need 600 lbs of the new feed.
This is the easy part!

Just convert parts to %:

Remember the formula for percentage:
Part/whole x 100 = %part

Barley:
28 parts / 46 total parts x 100 = 60.87%

CSM:
18 parts / 46 total parts x 100 = 39.13 %

Then convert % to lbs:

Now we know what % of final feed will be barley and CSM, and from the problem, we know we want 600 total lbs of feed. We just need to figure out how many lbs of each this means!
Barley: 600 lb x .6087 = 365.22 lbs! CSM: 600 lb x .3913 = 234.78 lbs! This is your answer! You need to mix 365.22 lbs barley and 234.78 lbs CSM to make your mix!

Lets Check the Answer

Barley: we determined 365.22 lbs needed; and from the problem we know that our barley is 8% CP;
365.22 x 0.08 = 29.22 lb CP

CSM: we determined 234.78 lbs needed; from the problem we know CSM is 54% CP;
234.78 x 0.54 = 126.78

These two answers should add to give the percent CP we were looking for:
29.22 + 126.78 = 156 156 lb CP / 600 total lb feed x 100 = 26% CP

Ready for another one?

An elephant is on a feed that requires a ration containing 55% TDN. The TDN of two feeds, alfalfa hay and corn, are 89% and 22%, respectively. Determine the amounts of each feed necessary (in units/300 lbs) to meet the TDN requirement of the elephant.

Hints!
Remember the steps:
1. Set up the square and label it: the labels stay the same going across! 2. Subtract going DIAGONALLY 3. Get total parts 4. Find each feed % from the total parts 5. Convert the % to lbs based on total amount feed we need 6. Check your answer!

Answer
Alfalfa Hay 89% 33 parts Alfalfa Hay

55%
Corn 22% 34 parts Corn

67 total parts Alfalfa: 33 parts / 67 total x 100 = 49.25%; 300 lbs x .4925 =147.75 lbs Corn: 34 parts / 67 total x 100 = 50.75%; 300 lbs x .5075 = 152.25 lbs
Check the answer: alfalfa: 147.75lbs x .89 TDN = 131.49 lb TDN corn: 152.25 lbs x .22 TDN = 33.49 lb TDN 131.49 + 33.49 = 164.98 total TDN / 300 lb feed x 100 = 55% TDN

1) CP requirement for cattle is 14%. You decide to feed the following ration: Corn 8.5% CP and Alfalfa 18% CP. You want to mix a feed that is 500 lbs.
2) The CP requirement is 14%. This farmer wants to feed soybean meal (SM) with a CP of 45% and corn that has a 10% CP. The farmer need 1000 lbs. 3) Make 2 of your own feed rations.