Livestock Feed Rations: Dry Matter, Pearson Square, Least-Cost Mixes & Feed Budgets
Formulate rations for a fictional mixed livestock farm: as fed vs dry matter, intake targets, energy and protein checks, the Pearson square, least-cost diets against a spec, minerals and premix, a winter silage budget and a feeding trial with FCR and cost per kg gain, with every cell checked as you go.
One-time payment · lifetime access · lessons, labs, exam and certificate included · no subscription.
About this course
This course turns feed rationing into spreadsheet work you can check. On a fictional mixed farm you convert feed prices from as fed to dry matter and price protein and energy, estimate dry matter intake from liveweight, and test a finisher ration against its energy and protein requirement. You mix two feeds to a protein target with the Pearson square, compare least-cost pig diets against a lysine and energy specification, fix a calcium to phosphorus ratio with limestone and cost a premix. Finally you budget winter silage with clamp losses and evaluate a feeding trial with feed conversion, cost per kg of gain and margin over feed.
Lessons
- Dry Matter vs As Fed: Putting Feeds on Equal Terms Pro
- Dry Matter Intake: How Much Can the Animals Eat? Pro
- Checking a Ration: Energy, Protein & Energy Density Pro
- The Pearson Square: Mixing Two Feeds to a Protein Target Pro
- Least-Cost Mixes: The Cheapest Diet That Meets the Spec Pro
- Minerals & Premix: Small Amounts, Big Errors Pro
- Winter Feed Budget: Will the Silage Last? Pro
- Capstone: Feeding Trial – FCR, Cost per kg Gain & Margin over Feed Pro