Feed Formulation Calculator & Pearson Square Mix
Balances poultry feed
Mix feed to the right protein — the Pearson square blends a protein-rich and protein-poor feed to your target crude protein, giving how much of each to use.
Enter your two feeds
Next: check the achieved protein matches your target, then weigh out the two feeds and mix thoroughly; if the share looks impractical, swap in a richer or poorer source and recalculate.
Target protein must lie between the two feeds; add minerals, salt & vitamin premix separately (≈1–2% of the mix).
Feed formulation — key facts
- Parts of rich feed
- target − poor protein
- Parts of poor feed
- rich protein − target
- Target must be
- between the two feeds
- Broiler starter
- ≈ 22% CP
- Layer
- ≈ 16% CP
- Dairy concentrate
- ≈ 18% CP
- Add separately
- minerals, vitamins, energy
- Privacy
- Runs in your browser; nothing uploaded
Hit the right protein, mix your own feed
Buying ready feed is convenient but costly; mixing your own from a protein-rich concentrate and a cheap energy grain can cut the bill — if you get the protein right. The Pearson square is the classic, foolproof way to blend two feeds to a target crude protein: a little diagonal subtraction gives the exact proportion of each.
This tool runs the square for you: enter the protein levels of your two feeds, your target, and the batch size, and it returns the kilograms of each feed, the achieved protein and the cost per kg — and flags if the target doesn't sit between your two feeds. Remember it balances protein only; add a mineral-vitamin premix and balance energy separately for a complete ration. Pair it with the Livestock Feed and Feed Conversion Ratio tools.
Hit the protein
Exact kg of each feed to reach your target crude protein.
Mix your own
Blend a cheap grain with a concentrate to cut feed cost.
Cost the mix
Add feed prices to see the cost per kg of your blend.
Any species
Works for poultry, cattle, pig and fish rations.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Pearson square?+
A simple method to mix two feeds to a target protein (or other nutrient) level. You subtract diagonally across a square: parts of the high-protein feed = target − low feed's protein; parts of the low feed = high feed's protein − target. The ratio of those parts gives the mix. This tool does it instantly for any two feeds.
How do I balance feed to a target protein?+
Pick a protein-rich feed (e.g. oilcake at 44%) and a protein-poor feed (e.g. maize at 9%), and a target (e.g. 18%). The Pearson square gives the proportion of each: here about 26% oilcake and 74% maize. Enter your feeds' protein levels and target and the tool returns the kilograms of each for your batch.
Why must the target lie between the two feeds?+
Mixing two feeds can only produce a protein level between their two values — you can't get 20% by blending a 9% and an 18% feed. The target must sit between the protein-poor and protein-rich feed. The tool flags an invalid combination so you choose feeds that bracket your target.
Can I use it for poultry, cattle, pigs or fish?+
Yes — the Pearson square works for any species' ration. Just use the protein levels of your two feeds and the target crude protein for that animal and stage (e.g. broiler starter ~22%, layer ~16%, dairy concentrate ~18%, fish feed 25–35%). The maths is the same; choose feeds that bracket the target.
What about more than two feeds, or other nutrients?+
The basic Pearson square balances two feeds for one nutrient. For multiple feeds or several nutrients (energy, lysine, calcium) at once, you need least-cost formulation software. But the two-feed square covers the common on-farm case of blending a concentrate with a grain, which this tool handles.
What is crude protein?+
Crude protein is the standard measure of a feed's protein content, estimated from its nitrogen (N × 6.25). Feed tags and tables list it as a percentage. Use the crude protein % of your two feeds and your target; the tool blends them to hit the target crude protein.
How do I keep feed cost down?+
Use the cheapest feeds that bracket your target protein, and let the square find the proportion. Enter each feed's price and the tool gives the cost per kg of the mix, so you can compare feed pairs and choose the least-cost combination that still meets the protein target.
Does protein alone make a balanced ration?+
No — a complete ration also needs energy, fibre, minerals, vitamins and (for some species) specific amino acids. The Pearson square fixes the protein blend; add a mineral-vitamin premix and balance energy separately. Use this as the protein step, not the whole ration.
What are good protein-rich and protein-poor feeds?+
Protein-rich: oilcakes (groundnut, soybean, mustard, cotton), fishmeal, pulses. Protein-poor (energy) feeds: maize, broken rice, wheat bran, sorghum. Blend one of each to hit the target. The tool just needs their protein % and your target.
How accurate is the result?+
The Pearson square is exact for the protein blend given the inputs — the achieved protein the tool shows will equal your target when the feeds bracket it. Accuracy in practice depends on knowing your feeds' true protein levels, so use tested or tabled values.