Edition 3 (2016) The Science of Maryland Agriculture GOAL STATEMENT: Students will understand how feed ingredients are mixed to provide nutrition for optimum bone and muscle growth of broiler chickens. OBJECTIVES: Sequence the stages of the growth and processing of a broiler chicken. Replicate the mixing of animal feed by mixing the proper ratios of ingredients. Calculate animal feed ratios. REQUIRED MATERIALS: Copies of Calculating Feed Mix Ratios worksheet (1 per student) Sets of chicken growth and processing stages photos (1 set per group, cut out and scrambled for students to arrange) Simulation feed ingredients for each group Edible option: box of soy cereal, box of corn cereal, and box of mixed-ingredient cereal Non-edible option: dried soybeans, popcorn kernels, and mixed dried beans OR colored beads (at least 3 different colors) Large mixing bowls (1 per group) Small bowls/cups and spoons (1 per student edible option only) Weight scales (1 per group) AMOUNT OF TIME TO ALLOW: 60 minutes. Extension activities will take additional time.
The poultry industry is an important part of Maryland s economy. In 2014, 40% of Maryland s cash farm income was from broilers chickens produced for their meat making broilers Maryland s leading agricultural product. Maryland s poultry industry ranks ninth in the United States in terms of the number of broilers produced. In 2014, approximately 288 million broiler chickens with a value of $990 million were produced in Maryland. Chickens are raised on family farms where they live in spacious chicken houses with carefullly controlled heat and ventilation systems. Most chicken farmers have advanced computer systems that allow them to maintain and monitor optimum chicken house conditions. The house protects the chickens from disease, predators, and bad weather. Broiler chickens are not raised in cages. They roam freely about the chicken house. Feed and fresh water are dispensed automatically. Maryland farmers contract with chicken companies to grow their chickens. The chicken farmer and a chicken company employee manage and monitor the chickens throughout the seven-week growth cycle. Farmers own the chicken houses and the equipment and provide the day-to-day care and management needed for optimal growth, welfare, and productivity of their flocks. The average live weight of a commercial broiler is 5.4 pounds when it is sent to market. Selective breeding over decades, along with optimal nutrition, allows chickens to attain such a weight gain in a short period of time. Chickens are the hybrid car of the animal agriculture industry. They are the most efficient at converting the feed they eat into meat, similarly to how the hybrid car converts gas to the most miles per gallon. After seven weeks of growth, broiler chickens are sent to be processed and sold at the grocery store. Farmers have approximately two weeks to prepare for the next flock. On average, farmers raise five flocks per year. A feed ration is the amount of food an animal eats in a 24-hour period. Chickens are fed a balanced diet of corn and soybean meal mixed with vitamin and mineral supplements. No hormones are used in feed for chickens. It is against United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) regulations to add hormones to poultry feed. There are six classes of nutrients that must be considered when formulating a feed ration: carbohydrates, protein, fat, vitamins, minerals, and water. All animals require these six nutrients to survive and grow, although different animals require each nutrient in differing amounts. Nutrient requirements and thus feed rations vary depending on the age, health, sex, and energy requirement of the animal. Today, feeds are formulated by computers. The feed mill operator will input the ingredients to be used and the nutrient requirements for the birds being fed, and the computer will formulate and create the feed mix.
15 minutes Ask students how many chickens are raised each year in Maryland compared to other animals such as cattle, swine, sheep, and goats. Write the following options on sheets of paper and place them around the classroom: 1) tiny number, 2) small number, 3) same number, 4) larger number, 5) much larger number (compared to other animal species). Have students stand next to the option they consider the best answer. Count the number of students who choose each option. Tell the class that the actual number of chickens grown in Maryland is many, many times the number of each other animal species raised for meat purposes. Tell the class Maryland is one of the top producers of broiler chickens in the United States. Broiler chickens are young chickens raised for meat. These chickens are different from those that lay eggs, known as layers. Laying hens are the chickens that lay the eggs found in grocery stores. Ask students how many pounds of chicken the average U.S. citizen eats each year compared to other meats like beef and pork. Using the same options as for the previous question, have students stand next to the option they consider the best answer. Tell the class that, according to 2008 data, each person in the United States consumes, on average, 83.5 pounds of chicken! This is more consumption than beef at 64 pounds per person and pork at 49.5 pounds per person. People must love their tasty chicken! Copy the photos of the chicken industry, cut them out, and have students arrange them in the correct sequence from chick to finished product. After they have had time to work, put together the correct sequence using input from the groups and talk about each stage as you go. Following is the correct sequence. Broiler Chicken Growth and Processing Stages Newly-hatched chickens at hatchery Jon Moyle/University of Maryland Boxes of baby chicks ready for transport Jon Moyle/University of Maryland
Broiler chicken houses on a farm Jon Moyle/University of Maryland Young chickens in poultry house Edwin Remsberg/University of Maryland Partially grown chickens eating from feeder Edwin Remsberg/University of Maryland Truck delivering chickens to processor Jon Moyle/University of Maryland Chickens being prepared at processing plant Maryland Department of Agriculture Packaged chicken from grocery store
35 minutes Now that the group knows the growth stages of chickens, this section will focus on what they eat to gain weight and grow. Activity 1: Making Your Own Feed Mix Ask students to brainstorm about what chickens eat and write their ideas on the board. Guide students to the understanding that chicken rations are made up of a variety of ingredients, primarily corn, soybeans, and a vitamin and mineral mix. These ingredients are mixed in a specific ratio to ensure the animals are eating a balanced diet. Tell students that they will be completing a simulation in which they create a feed mix with percentages similar to those used in chicken feed. Depending on the teacher s intent, students will use either cereals (if the teacher wants them to eat the snack mix) or dried grains or beads (if the teacher does not want them to eat the mix) to represent the different feed ingredients. Steps to creating the feed mix: 1. Divide the class into groups and explain what students will be using to represent soybean, corn, and other ingredients. If the teacher intends for students to eat the mix, you may choose to use the following ingredients: Corn: popcorn, Corn Chex, or Corn Flakes Soybeans: soynuts or soy cereal, such as Kashi GoLean Crunch Vitamin/mineral mix: granola or Fruity Pebbles If the teacher does not intend for students to eat the mix, you may use dried soybeans or other beans (soybeans), popcorn kernels (corn), and dried mixed beans (vitamin/mineral premix) or different colored beads to represent the feed ingredients. If you are using cereal, have each group observe the nutrition label on the cereal boxes. Discuss how the nutrition label is the same as a feed mix label on a bag of animal feed. A nutrition label lists all of the nutrients available and how much of each ingredient can be found in a serving size. 2. Have each group use the standard feed mix percentages below to determine the amount of each ingredient needed to create one pound of feed mix. To save materials, you may want to have each group mix an amount of feed that is less than one pound. Based on the amount of feed mix to be created, have students calculate the number of pounds of each ingredient that will be needed. (The answers are provided in the table below.) Ingredient Percentage Pounds ingredient needed for: of ration 1 pound mix 1/2 pound mix 1/4 pound mix 1/8 pound mix Corn 54% 0.54 0.27 0.135 0.0675 Soybean 37% 0.37 0.185 0.0925 0.04625 Vit/min mix 9% 0.09 0.045 0.0225 0.01125
3. Have students weigh out the correct amount of each ingredient and then mix the ingredients together in a large bowl. (If scales are not available, you may use scoops or measuring cups with a combined total of ten scoops equaling one pound. If using beads, students may also count beads to calculate.) 4. Once well blended, remind students that this is the same concept used in mixing chicken feed. If using edible items, have students divide the ration into portions for each student to enjoy! If using inedible items, separate the ingredients according to color and type before collecting and storing them again. Activity 2: Calculating Feed Mix Ratios It is very important for poultry companies to provide growers with feed that includes the proper nutrients to help the birds grow, develop, and mature to their optimum weight. This process involves making calculations which are sometimes simple and sometimes complicated, depending on the situation. Have students complete the Calculating Feed Mix Ratios activity sheet included at the end of this lesson. The answers to the problems are provided below. An average chicken house can hold 25,000 chickens. Each chicken will eat about 12 pounds of feed during its seven-week growing period. 1. How much feed is needed to feed all of the chickens for the entire seven weeks? 25,000 chickens x 12 pounds of feed = 300,000 pounds of feed 2. How many pounds of feed will the chickens eat in one week? 300,000 pounds of feed / 7 weeks = about 42,857 pounds of feed 3. In one day? 300,000 pounds of feed / 49 days = about 6,122 pounds of feed 4. A feed mill needs to mix 300,000 pounds of chicken feed that contains 54% soybean meal, 37% corn, and 9% vitamins and minerals. How many pounds of each ingredient do they need to make 300,000 pounds (lbs) of feed? Soybean meal: 300,000 lbs feed x 0.54 = 162,000 lbs soybean meal Corn: 300,000 lbs feed x 0.37 = 111,000 lbs corn Vitamins and minerals: 300,000 lbs feed x 0.09 = 27,000 lbs vitamins and minerals 5. Do you have the correct amount of each ingredient to make 300,000 pounds of chicken feed? Check your work. 162,000 lbs soybean meal + 111,000 lbs corn + 27,000 lbs vitamin and minerals = 300,000 lbs chicken feed 6. If there was a farm that had four chicken houses (25,000 chickens in each house), how much feed would be needed to feed all the chickens for the entire seven weeks? 300,000 lbs of feed needed for one house x 4 houses = 1,200,000 lbs of feed 7. How much of each ingredient (54% soybean meal, 37% corn, and 9% vitamins and minerals) is needed to make enough feed to feed all the chickens in four houses for the entire seven weeks? 1,200,000 x 0.54 = 648,000 lbs soybean meal 1,200,000 x 0.37 = 444,000 lbs corn 1,200,000 x 0.09 = 108,000 lbs vitamins and minerals 8. Do you have the correct amount of each ingredient to make 1,200,000 pounds of feed? 648,000 lbs soybean meal + 444,000 lbs corn + 108,000 lbs vitamin and minerals = 1,200,000 chicken feed 9. How many chickens can be raised at once on a four-house farm? 25,000 chickens per house x 4 houses = 100,000 chickens
20 minutes Ask students to explain why poultry farmers need to give the birds a feed mix with carefully balanced ingredients. Let them discuss ideas, and lead the discussion to the idea of maximizing rate of growth and bird nutrition. Farmers strive to have the healthiest, most productive birds possible by feeding them the best diet available. Just like eating a balanced diet of healthy foods is important to our well-being, providing a variety of healthy ingredients in just the right proportions is also essential to producing healthy chickens. For chickens, a healthy diet equates to better growth and weight gain and thus higher profits for the farmer, who is paid on a per-pound basis. The Pearson Square method has been used for many years to calculate simple feed rations. The example below demonstrates how to use the Pearson Square method to find the proportion of different ingredients needed in a starter feed ration for broiler chickens. Additional calculations you may want to try are included at the end of the demonstration. Background information A starter feed is a diet that is fed to young chicks between 0-4 weeks of age. The nutrient requirements for the starter diet are listed in Table 1. As you can see, the difference in the starter diet for broilers is the amount of protein. Young growing animals require more protein for muscle development and weight gain. Table 1 Nutrient Broiler Diets Starter (0-4 weeks old) Finisher (5-7 weeks old) Protein (%) 23.0% 20.0% Calcium (%) 1.0% 1.0% Available phosphorus (%) 0.45% 0.45% Metabolizable energy (kcal) 3,200 3,200 In this activity, students will calculate a feed ration mix based on the protein requirement. The available ingredients are corn, soybean meal, and a vitamin and mineral premix. The nutrient content of these ingredients is listed in Table 2. Table 2 Ingredient Nutrient Content Energy Protein Calcium Cost Corn 3,400 kcal/kg 9.0% 0.02% $203.70/ton Soybean meal 2,400 kcal/kg 49.0% 0.27% $227.00/ton Vitamin and mineral premix 0 0.0% 0.0% $5.00/kg
Using the Pearson Square to Solve the Problem 1. Determine the protein requirement by consulting Table 1. Protein requirement for 0-4 week old broiler chickens = 23% of final ration 2. Determine how much of the diet will contribute to the protein requirement. Of the three ingredients we have available, only corn and soybean meal will contribute protein to the ration. Therefore, we need to leave space in the ration for the ingredient that does not contribute protein (the vitamin and mineral premix). In this example, we will leave 9% of space for the vitamin and mineral premix. 100% of total ration 9% space for premix = 91% of space for corn and soybean meal 3. Determine the percentage of protein needed from the protein-containing ingredients. The final ration must contain 23% protein, but only 91% of the ration is contributing protein. Divide the protein requirement in the final ration by the amount of space allowed for proteincontaining ingredients to determine the percentage of protein needed in the corn and soybean meal component. 23% 0.91 = 25.27% 4. Draw a Pearson Square to begin the calculation. Draw a 1- to 2-inch square, and draw diagonal lines across the square. Write the percentage of protein needed from the corn and soybean meal component in the center of the square. Then write the ingredients to be used at each corner and the percent protein contained in each ingredient (see Table 2). When properly set up, your Pearson Square should look like the one below. Soybean meal 49.0% 25.27 Corn 9.0% 5. Complete the calculations using the Pearson Square. Going diagonally across the square, subtract the smaller number from the larger number. Write the difference at the opposite corner. The numbers at the two right corners are parts of the two ingredients needed in the diet. Add the parts to determine the total number of parts. Soybean meal 49.0% 16.27 parts soybean meal 25.27 + Corn 9.0% 23.73 parts corn 40 parts total 6. Find the percentage of each ingredient needed in the diet. Divide the number of parts of each ingredient by the total number of parts. Then, multiply this value by the amount of space in the diet for protein-containing ingredients (in this example, 91%). 23.73 parts corn / 40 parts total = 0.59325 x.091 = 53.986% corn 16.27 parts soybean meal / 40 parts total = 0.40675 x 0.91 = 37.014% soybean meal (We know from the given in the problem that the remaining 9% is vitamin and mineral pre-mix.)
Additional Practice Calculations Here are some additional calculations you may wish to have students complete. How many pounds of each ingredient are needed to make 1,500 pounds of the starter diet? 1,500 lbs x 0.53986 = 809.79 lbs of corn 1,500 lbs x.37014 = 555.21 lbs soybean meal 1,500 lbs x.09 = 135 lbs vitamin and mineral premix How much will it cost to make 1,500 pounds of the starter diet? Use the conversion factors below to help you find the answer. 1 kg = 2.2 lbs 1 ton = 2000 lbs First, convert the prices from dollars per ton or kilogram to dollars per pound. Corn: $203.70 per ton / 2,000 lbs per ton = $0.10 per lb Soybean meal: $227.00 per ton / 2,000 lbs per ton = $0.11 per lb Vitamin and mineral premix: $5.00 per kg / 2.2 lbs per kg = $2.27 per lb Next, calculate cost per pound. 809.79 lbs corn x $0.10 per lb = $80.98 555.21 lbs soybean meal x $0.11 per lb = $61.07 135 lbs vitamin and mineral premix x $2.27 per lb = $306.45 Finally, add the cost of each ingredient to find the total cost of making the diet. $80.98 + $61.07 + $306.45 = $448.50 How many bushels of corn and how many bushels of soybeans will be needed to make 1,500 pounds of the starter diet? Use the conversion factors below to help you find the answer. 1 bushel corn = 54 lbs 1 bushel soybeans = 60 lbs 809.79 lbs corn / 54 lbs per bushel = 14.996 bushels of corn 555.21 lbs soybean meal / 60 lbs per bushel = 9.254 bushels of soybean meal Use the Pearson Square method to calculate a feed ration for a broiler finisher diet. Assume the same ingredients are available and that 8% of the ration will be set aside for the vitamin and mineral premix. Base the ration off the protein requirement. Protein requirement = 20% of final ration Leaving 8% for vitamin and mineral premix: 100% - 8% = 92% available for protein-containing ingredients 20% protein in final ration 92% available for protein-containing ingredients = 21.74% adjusted protein requirement Soybean meal 49.0% 12.74 parts soybean meal 21.74 + Corn 9.0% 27.26 parts corn 40 parts total 12.74 parts soybean meal / 40 parts total = 31.85% soybean meal 27.26 parts corn / 40 parts total = 68.15% corn From the given in the problem, we know that the remaining 8% is vitamin and mineral premix.
Chicken Farmer This person raises chickens by providing the day-to-day care they need for optimal growth, welfare, and productivity. Nutritionist This person develops diets that will maximize the chicken s growth potential. Veterinarian This person ensures the health of the chickens and takes care of any that may become ill. Meat Inspector This person inspects chicken meat to ensure quality and safety. Product Marketer This person advertises for the chicken producer to encourage more people to buy chicken. Truck Driver This person delivers processed chicken to grocery stores and restaurants where it can be consumed. Poultry Scientist This person researches various areas of poultry production and use to determine new and better ways to raise chickens and make chicken products. Student understanding can be evaluated through class discussion or assessment of completed activity data sheets. The following questions may also be used to evaluate student learning. 1. What is a broiler chicken? In comparison to other food animals, how many broiler chickens are raised each year (many more, about the same, or many fewer)? 2. Describe the stages of broiler chicken growth and processing from the time a chick hatches until it is purchased by a customer at the grocery store. 3. Why is it important that an animal s ration be carefully calculated and measured? Delmarva Poultry Industry. <www.dpichicken.org/> NASS Maryland Crop Statistics. <www.nass.usda.gov/statistics_by_state/maryland/index.asp> NASS Maryland Poultry Statistics. <www.nass.usda.gov/statistics_by_state/maryland/index. asp>
Name: Date: Period: Calculating Feed Mix Ratios It is very important for poultry companies to provide broilers with feed that includes the proper nutrients to help the birds grow, develop, and mature to their optimum weight. This process involves making calculations that are sometimes simple and sometimes complicated, depending on the situation. An average chicken house can hold 25,000 chickens. Each chicken will eat about 12 pounds of feed during its sevenweek growing period. 1. How much feed is needed to feed all of the chickens for the entire seven weeks? 2. How many pounds of feed will the chickens eat in one week? 3. How many pounds of feed will the chickens eat in one day? 4. A feed mill needs to mix 300,000 pounds of chicken feed that contains 54% soybean meal, 37% corn, and 9% vitamins and minerals. How many pounds of each ingredient do they need to make 300,000 pounds of feed? 5. Do you have the correct amount of each ingredient to make 300,000 pounds of chicken feed? Check your work. 6. If there was a farm that had four chicken houses (25,000 chickens in each house), how much feed would be needed to feed all the chickens for the entire seven weeks? 7. How much of each ingredient (54% soybean meal, 37% corn, and 9% vitamins and minerals) is needed to make enough feed to feed all the chickens in four houses for the entire seven weeks? 8. Do you have the correct amount of each ingredient to make 1,200,000 pounds of feed? 9. How many chickens can be raised at once on a four-house farm? The Science of Maryland Agriculture because of race, age, sex, color, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, religion, ancestry,
Name: Date: Period: Calculating Feed Mix Ratios (2) Pearson Square Extension Activity The Pearson Square method has been used for many years to calculate simple feed rations. In this activity, you will use the Pearson Square method to find the proportion of different ingredients needed in a starter feed ration for broiler chickens. A starter feed is a diet that is fed to young chicks between 0-4 weeks of age. The nutrient requirements for the starter diet are listed in Table 1. As you can see, the difference in the starter diet for broilers is the amount of protein. Young growing animals require more protein for muscle development and weight gain. Table 1 Nutrient Broiler Diets Starter (0-4 weeks old) Finisher (5-7 weeks old) Protein (%) 23.0% 20.0% Calcium (%) 1.0% 1.0% Available phosphorus (%) 0.45% 0.45% Metabolizable energy (kcal) 3,200 3,200 You will calculate a feed ration mix based on the protein requirement. The available ingredients are corn, soybean meal, and a vitamin and mineral premix. The nutrient content of these ingredients is listed in Table 2. Table 2 Ingredient Nutrient Content Energy Protein Calcium Cost Corn 3,400 kcal/kg 9.0% 0.02% $203.70/ton Soybean meal 2,400 kcal/kg 49.0% 0.27% $227.00/ton Vitamin and mineral premix 0 0.0% 0.0% $5.00/kg You will calculate a feed ration mix based on the protein requirement. The available ingredients are corn, soybean meal, and a vitamin and mineral premix. The nutrient content of these ingredients is listed in Table 2. 1. What is the protein requirement for a starter broiler diet? (Hint: look at Table 1.) 2. How much of the diet will contribute to the protein requirement? Of the three ingredients we have available, only corn and soybean meal will contribute protein to the ration. Therefore, we need to leave space in the ration for the ingredient that does not contribute protein (the vitamin and mineral premix). In this example, we will leave 9% of space for the vitamin and mineral premix. 3. What percentage of protein must be found in the protein-containing ingredients? Since only corn and soybean meal contribute protein, we must determine how much of this portion of the diet must be protein in order for the entire ration to contain the correct amount of protein. The Science of Maryland Agriculture because of race, age, sex, color, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, religion, ancestry,
Name: Date: Period: Calculating Feed Mix Ratios (3) Protein requirement in final ration (answer to #1): Amount of space allowed for protein-containing ingredients (answer to #2): 4. Draw a Pearson Square to begin the calculation. A Pearson Square has been drawn for you below. Write the percentage of protein needed from the corn and soybean meal component (answer to #3) in the center of the square. Then write the ingredients to be used at each corner and the percent protein contained in each ingredient (hint: see Table 2). = 5. Complete the calculations using the Pearson Square. Copy your Pearson Square below, then complete the calculations. Going diagonally across the square, subtract the smaller number from the larger number. Write the difference at the opposite corner. The numbers at the two right corners are parts of the two ingredients needed in the diet. Add the parts to determine the total number of parts. 6. What percentage of each ingredient needed in the diet? Divide the number of parts of each ingredient by the total number of parts. Then, multiply this value by the amount of space in the diet for protein-containing ingredients (answer to #2). The Science of Maryland Agriculture because of race, age, sex, color, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, religion, ancestry,
Name: Date: Period: Calculating Feed Mix Ratios (4) Additional Practice Calculations 1. How many pounds of each ingredient are needed to make 1,500 pounds of the starter diet? 2. How much will it cost to make 1,500 pounds of the starter diet? Use the conversion factors below to help you find the answer. 1 kg = 2.2 lbs 1 ton = 2000 lbs 3. How many bushels of corn and how many bushels of soybeans will be needed to make 1,500 pounds of the starter diet? Use the conversion factors below to help you find the answer. 1 bushel corn = 54 lbs 1 bushel soybeans = 60 lbs 4. Use the Pearson Square method to calculate a feed ration for a broiler finisher diet. Assume the same ingredients are available and that 8% of the ration will be set aside for the vitamin and mineral premix. Base the ration off the protein requirement. The Science of Maryland Agriculture because of race, age, sex, color, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, religion, ancestry,