Aug 03, 2016 Ecochicks Poultry Ltd - > Poultry Farming > Calculations in making own poultry feed We shall be using The Pearson Square methodrelies on the Digestible Crude Protein (DCP) as the basic nutritional requirement for feed. Feb 08, 2018 A Poultry Feed Formulation Spreadsheet By Harvey Ussery – Anyone with an entry-level working knowledge of electronic spreadsheets can adapt the spreadsheet I designed for assisting with poultry feed formulation.
By Harvey Ussery – Anyone with an entry-level working knowledge of electronic spreadsheets can adapt the spreadsheet I designed for assisting with poultry feed formulation. I have reduced the spreadsheet as presented here to its essentials for the sake of simplicity. In actual practice, I have several additional columns (for example, to calculate feed costs as I plug in different weight values for ingredients). You can add more columns as well, populating them with appropriate formulas to calculate whatever values you wish to track (perhaps fats and carbohydrates in addition to protein) when learning. In this simplified version, however, we will calculate only the percent of protein in the mix, and the amounts of premix and individual ingredients to use as we make up single 25-pound batches. The basic feed formulation spreadsheet. Formulas to enter into cells requiring them.
(Note: Actual syntax of the formulas might be different for your spreadsheet program.) Sample winter layer mix. Sample mix for chicks on pasture. Note first of all that the ingredients for the poultry feed formulation are divided into “Premix” and “Grind/Whole Portion.” It would be extremely inefficient to measure out the supplements, which are added in relatively small amounts, into the mix when making up individual batches. Therefore, we mix together the premix ingredients for, say, 500 pounds, then weigh out into individual plastic bags the appropriate amount for a 25-pound batch, then store the bags until needed.
Even old pros say they got dozens of tips for their flocks by reading this guide. The actual list of ingredients on your poultry feed formulation spreadsheet will likely differ from that of mine, of course. I like to note in the list, in parentheses, the percent protein of each ingredient. (I do this just as a reminder to myself — it has nothing to do with the calculations of the formulas.) Note that I’ve also added a reminder to myself never to add more than 2-1/2 pounds of crab meal in any formulation (since its selenium, a necessary trace mineral, can actually have a toxic effect in large amounts). I have used colored backgrounds to highlight the two key types of cells in the poultry feed formulation spreadsheet. (The colored shading is for illustration only — there is no need to use colored backgrounds in your spreadsheet.) Cells with a light yellow background are cells into which you will enter data.
That is, you will enter weights for individual ingredients you are considering. Cells with a light green background are cells into which you will enter formulas. In the second poultry feed formulation spreadsheet, I have printed the formulas to be entered into the requisite cells. In an actual electronic spreadsheet, of course, the formula itself is not displayed in the cell-only the numerical result of the formula’s calculation is displayed. Please note that the exact syntax for formulas in your spreadsheet program may differ from that in the formulas given here. (I use Gnumeric, an open source spreadsheet program.) Use the Help section of your spreadsheet program to determine the exact syntax required-otherwise, your formulas will not function. The first formula to enter is in Cell B18, which simply sums all the values in the cells above it =sum(B3:B16), to give a total of all the individual weights you enter for the ingredients.
(Note that as I enter values in Column B, I always ensure that this total comes out to 100 pounds, since that makes it easier to think in terms of percentages.) Next, we add formulas in Column C to calculate the amount of protein added by each ingredient, based on the weight of the ingredient added multiplied by its percent protein. Thus in Cell C6 (for fish meal), the formula is =B6.0.6-that is, the weight of fish meal entered in Cell B6 multiplied by 60 percent protein. Having added a formula for every ingredient contributing protein (and note that there are no formulas entered for ingredients like kelp meal or Nutri-Balancer which do not), we now add a formula in Cell C18 to total all the individual amounts of protein calculated by those formulas, then divide by 100, to express the percent protein in the mix as a decimal: =sum(C3:C16)/100 Download Poultry Feed Formulation Spreadsheets Here You may download the poultry feed formulation spreadsheet calculator described in this article as a tool for designing your own feed mixes. Select the appropriate version for your particular needs:.
If you use Excel, the spreadsheet program in Microsoft’s Office suite, to download the spreadsheet. Those who prefer open source tools will probably have Open Office, the closest open source equivalent to Microsoft Office, in their system. If you use Open Office, click on this link ( to download the spreadsheet. Versions of both Open Office and Microsoft Office are available for use on Macintosh systems. Users of less common spreadsheet programs, such as the open source Gnumeric, are doubtless savvy enough to download the feed calculator as either an Excel or an Open Office file, and convert to their own native format.
Whichever version you choose to download, also click on this link ( for a plain text file that describes the use of the spreadsheet calculator. Once you have downloaded the appropriate version of the calculator spreadsheet, you may rename it anything you wish, and file it in any convenient place.
At this point, we are able to enter experimental values in Column B for any or all the ingredients, and the formulas entered thus far will “automagically” recalculate the amount of protein contributed by individual ingredients, and the percent protein for the mix. Now we add formulas in Column D to divide the amounts of all the ingredients figured on a hundredweight basis by four, to calculate the amounts of each to use when making up a 25-pound batch, a more practical amount to work with if mixing by hand. The first formula entered in Column D (Cell D10) is a bit special, in that it first totals the amounts of ingredients per hundredweight to make the premix, then divides by four, in order to define the amount of premix to measure out per 25-pound batch, that is: =sum(B3:B9)/4 The other formulas in Column D are more straightforward.
They simply divide the amount of the ingredient entered in Column B by four, to define the amount of that ingredient to measure out when making a 25-pound batch of feed. Thus in Cell D12, the amount of alfalfa meal to use per 25-pound batch is: =B12/4 Finally (basically as a check), we add a formula in Cell D18 to total the entries in Column D: =sum(D10:D16) (If we have a total in B18 of 100 pounds, the amount returned in D18 will always be 25 pounds.) To see how the poultry feed formulation spreadsheet works, let’s imagine we want to formulate a winter layer feed with a target protein value of 15 percent. We simply insert reasonable values for the individual ingredients (for a total of 100 pounds at Cell B18), and the spreadsheet recalculates the percent protein for the total mix at Cell C18, and the amounts of each ingredient needed to make a 25-pound batch. (Note that we can make any amount of premix at a time we wish, but Cell D10 tells us how much premix to weigh out and set aside for 25-pound batches.) I said we enter “reasonable” amounts for ingredients. I cannot tell you what amounts to use in your own poultry feed formulation – you still have a lot of homework to do on your own in formulating your feeds, and learning how to take into account. For example, our amount for Nutri-Balancer will be based on Fertrell’s recommendation for this supplement, and on the fact that our winter flock is confined to the poultry house on deep organic litter.
In this case, two pounds of Nutri-Balancer per hundredweight is appropriate. In the case of our winter layer feed, we enter the values shown in “Sample winter layer mix.” Note how, as we enter values in Column B, the sheet automatically recalculates new values in Columns C and D. Suppose we want to formulate a starter feed for on pasture with mother hens. (See “Sample mix for chicks on pasture.”) Since growing chicks do not need nearly as much calcium as adult layers, we greatly reduce the aragonite.
We boost the fish meal to just over 5 percent of the total (which is the maximum we want to add for this ingredient), since growing chicks have higher protein needs than adult layers. Since the chicks will be eating plenty of fresh green grass, clovers, and weeds, we omit the alfalfa meal entirely. Note that the percent protein for this mix is 17.6 percent, well below the 22 percent that would be recommended for fast-growing meat hybrids such as Cornish Cross. However, heritage breed chicks have not been bred for such high-protein input. Also, the mother hens will certainly be supplying additional protein to the chicks in the form of insects and worms.
Thus a protein percentage that is low by industry standards is perfectly appropriate for this home-mixed feed. Originally published in 2007 and regularly vetted for accuracy. Was originally posted.
Least Cost Feed Formulation for Poultry Prof. Talat Naseer Pasha Dean, Faculty of Animal Production and Technology University of Veterinary & Animal Sciences, Lahore-54000 In past, producers balanced rations by hand calculation, often using long tedious trial-and –error methods. But in the past two decades, industries have adapted computers to every conceivable task, and the feed industry is no exception. Today, computers are used to formulate rations utilizing a wide variety of feed. However, one must realize that this new computerized technology is a tool, which must be used wisely based on certain principles. Feed formulation is a process by which different feed ingredients are combined in a proportion necessary to provide the bird with proper amount of nutrients needed at a particular age/stage of production.
It requires the knowledge about nutrients, feedstuffs and nutritional requirement of the birds in the development of nutritionally adequate rations that will be eaten in sufficient amounts to provide the level of production at a reasonable cost. The ration should be palatable and will not cause any serious digestive disturbance or toxic effects to the birds. Different classes of birds have different requirements for energy (carbohydrates and fats), proteins (amino acids), minerals and vitamins in order to maintain its various functions like growth, reproduction and egg production. Formulation of rations for poultry emphasizes the use of linear programming using a computer to derive the least-cost ration. Important Considerations in Feed Formulation Ration (or feed) formulation does not merely involve mathematical calculations to meet the requirement of the birds, since the result of the calculation may turn out to be impractical and not ideal for feeding of poultry.
An experienced animal nutritionist, therefore, needs to evaluate the feed formulation before it can be given to the birds. Factors to be considered in making good feed formulations are: Acceptability to the birds The ration being formulated has to be palatable enough to stimulate intake by the birds.
Feed refused by the birds is worthless, since feed has to be consumed and utilized by birds to serve its purpose. Digestibility The nutrients in the feed have to be digested and released into the gastrointestinal tract to be utilized by the birds. Rations with high fiber content cannot be tolerated by poultry. Cost The requirement of the birds can be met through several combinations of feed ingredients.
However, when the cost of these ingredients are considered, there can only be one least-cost formulation. The least-cost ration should ensure that requirements of the birds are met and the desired objectives are achieved. Presence of anti-nutritional factors and toxins The presence of anti-nutritional factors in the feed, such as anti-trypsin factor in soybean meal, affects the digestion of some nutrients by making them unavailable to the animal. Some feed ingredients may also contain toxic substances, which may be detrimental to the animal when given in excessive amounts. The inclusion of these feed ingredients should therefore be limited or eliminated from the formulation.
Other factors that should be considered in feed formulation are texture, moisture and the processing the feed has to undergo. Merhods of Formulating Rations There are several methods in formulating rations. All of them have the same objectives of providing the required balanced nutrients at the least possible cost. Trial-and-error Method This is the most popular method of formulating rations for poultry.
As the name implies, the formulation is manipulated until the nutrient requirements of the birds are met. This method makes possible the formulation of a ration that meets all the nutrient requirements of the birds.
Linear Programming (LP) This is a method of determining the least-cost combination of ingredients using a series of mathematical equations. There are many possible solutions to each series of equations, but when the factor of cost is applied, there can only be one least cost combination. An electronic computer is capable of making thousands of calculations in a very short time. However, the machine is incapable of correcting errors resulting from incorrect data and errors in setting up of the program. Therefore, the resultant rations obtained from linear programming will be no better than the information and values which are entered into the programming. Procedure Before using the LP approach to ration formulation, the user should be familiar with the LP program or software package to be used. Numerous companies market computer software for feed formulation.
The software varies from very simple and straight-forward to very complex packages intended for large feed manufacturers. The latter package include applications for formula costing, inventory control, control of usage of ingredients in limited availability, production of feed tags, etc. Ration formulation software may be generalized so that it can be made applicable to all species of animals or it may be designed with the unique requirements of specific species such as poultry, dairy cattle, etc. When the software has been designed for a certain species, it may incorporate tables of nutrient requirements and tables of typical feedstuffs and their nutrient values.
This can save user time, but it does not mean that the software will run itself without judgment of user. No one had yet developed software that will anticipate all the conditions under which livestock & poultry will fed. Computers are not able to assess all aspects of ingredient quality, environment and management. The judgment of the producer and formulator must be imposed on the computer software. Look for the freedom to make changes as needed. There is certain information and data entered into the computer and are generally created in steps as follows: Available feed ingredients It is necessary that all the available ingredients are listed along with the unit cost, as long as the number does not exceed some practical figure which the machine is capable of handling. Nutrient composition of feed ingredients Tables of feed composition using average or typical values may be used but chemical analysis of a representative sample should be used if available.
Ration specifications This generally represents the nutrient requirements and ingredient limits. In each case, the formulator specifies either a lower limit and/or an upper limit for each item. Formulation After providing all the necessary information, the computer produces formulas that will meet the desired specifications at the lowest possible cost. However, the formula should be feasible, both from a mathematical standpoint and from a nutritional standpoint.
The feedstuff mixture should be acceptable to the birds for which it is intended.