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Ration Balancing on the Ranch

Last Updated: February 21, 2011

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Fact Sheet Written by:

Rachel L. Endecott and Clay P. Mathis

And provided by:

New Mexico State University http://aces.nmsu.edu/pubs

On most ranches there are times when cattle are fed commodities such as hay or grains. However, delivering these commodities in the appropriate proportion and quantity to meet nutrient requirements and production goals can be challenging. The ability to balance a ration can be beneficial to producers by helping them cost effectively achieve production goals. To balance a ration, producers need to know the nutrient requirements of the cattle, nutrient content of feedstuffs being considered for the ration, and the mathematical calculations necessary to determine the amount of each feedstuff needed to meet the requirement. This guide will discuss ration balancing principles and describe the Pearson Square technique for ration balancing on the ranch.

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Ration Balancing

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