
What is Pearson’s Square?
It is a Simple Tool for Feed Mixing
At ChickCoop Farm, one of the most important aspects of managing a productive and healthy flock is providing balanced nutrition. Whether you’re raising chickens, goats, or cows, ensuring that their feed is properly balanced is essential for growth, egg production, and overall health. One tool that we find incredibly useful in creating balanced feed mixes is the Pearson Square method. It’s a quick and easy way to calculate the proper ratios of different feed ingredients to achieve a specific nutritional goal, such as protein content.
Let’s dive into what the Pearson Square is, how to use it, and a few tips to help you get the most out of this tool on your farm.
What is the Pearson Square?
The Pearson Square is a simple diagram used to balance feed rations by blending two ingredients with known nutrient contents (often protein). You can use it to calculate the proper proportions of two feed ingredients to reach a desired nutrient level for your animals.
For example, let’s say you want to mix soybean meal, which is high in protein, with cornmeal, which is lower in protein, to create a balanced diet with 16% protein for your chickens. The Pearson Square method helps you figure out the exact amount of each ingredient you need.
How to Use the Pearson Square
Here’s a step-by-step guide for using the Pearson Square on ChickCoop Farm:
- Draw a square: Start by drawing a large square and divide it into four sections. You’ll write values in each section based on the nutritional content of your feeds.
- Enter your target nutrient level: Write the target protein percentage (or whatever nutrient you’re balancing) in the center of the square. For this example, let’s aim for 16% protein.
- List the nutrient content of your feed ingredients: In the top left, write the protein content of the higher-protein feed (e.g., soybean meal at 44% protein). In the bottom left, write the protein content of the lower-protein feed (e.g., cornmeal at 8% protein).
- Subtract diagonally: Subtract the number in the center (your target protein) from the number on the top left (the higher-protein feed), and write the result on the bottom right. Next, subtract the bottom-left number from the center and write that number on the top right. These numbers represent the parts of each ingredient that you need to mix.
- Calculate the proportions: The numbers on the right side of the square are the parts of each ingredient that need to be combined to reach your target. Add these numbers together to find the total parts, then divide each number by the total to get the percentage of each ingredient.
Example Calculation
Let’s say we want to make a feed with 16% protein using soybean meal (44% protein) and cornmeal (8% protein):
- Target: 16% protein (write this in the center)
- Soybean meal: 44% protein (top left)
- Cornmeal: 8% protein (bottom left)
Now subtract diagonally:
- 44 – 16 = 28 (write this on the bottom right)
- 16 – 8 = 8 (write this on the top right)
This gives us a ratio of 8 parts soybean meal to 28 parts cornmeal.
To get percentages:
- Total parts = 8 + 28 = 36
- Soybean meal: 8 ÷ 36 = 22% of the mix
- Cornmeal: 28 ÷ 36 = 78% of the mix
So, to create a feed with 16% protein, you’ll need to mix 22% soybean meal with 78% cornmeal.
Tips from ChickCoop Farm for Using the Pearson Square
- Start simple: If you’re new to feed mixing, stick to balancing protein first. Once you’re comfortable with the process, you can add in other nutrients like energy or fiber.
- Adjust for local availability: Not every farm has access to the same feed ingredients. Try using locally sourced grains and protein meals that are available and affordable.
- Check for supplements: If you’re feeding chickens, sometimes you’ll need to add calcium or other vitamins to the feed mix. The Pearson Square is great for the basics, but remember that certain minerals and vitamins will need to be included separately.
- Test and tweak: It’s always a good idea to monitor how your animals respond to a new feed mix. Are they gaining weight properly? Is egg production consistent? Sometimes small tweaks in the mix can make a big difference.
At ChickCoop Farm we comeup with new and interesting blogs every week. The Pearson Square is a simple yet powerful tool that keeps our flocks happy and healthy. Whether you’re just getting started with feed mixing or you’re a seasoned farmer, this method can help ensure that your animals get the balanced nutrition they need. Remember to experiment, adjust as necessary, and most importantly, keep an eye on how your animals respond to the feed. Happy farming!
I always recommend backyard chickens to anyone looking for a hobby that’s both fun and productive.
True Pierre!