Most Profitable Grain Feeding Method 



& 



The 3 grain feeding methods inchided feeding grain to each cow at 

 a ratio of 1 pound of grain to 4 pounds of milk, feeding a fixed quantity 

 of grain to each cow, and feeding grain and forage in the proportions 

 needed to obtain a fixed quantity of milk. 



The Phase I analysis indicated that feeding each cow the same 

 quantity of grain is an uneconomic method. Although as many cows 

 could be fed as with the other grain feeding methods, net farm income 

 was lower than with the other 2 grain feeding methods. This result is 

 compatible with the long standing recommendations of many nutrition 

 specialists for feeding cows according to milk production. 



Difficulties, mainly stemming from inadequacy of data, were en- 

 countered in the analysis with feeding grain to maintain constant milk 

 output. Net income became progressively larger as the date of cut ad- 

 vanced. The feeding trials that the milk production functions were based 

 upon were not designed to measure the substitution rate of grain for 

 quality of hay. Due to inadequate data further analysis of this feeding 

 method was considered beyond the scope of this study. 



The Phase I analysis, therefore, indicated that feeding according to 

 a milk-grain ratio would be of most value for further study in Phase II. 



Most Profitable Forage Harvest Systems 



The five forage harvesting systems analyzed were: field cured and 

 baled: crushed, field cured and baled; crushed, baled and barn dried 

 without heat; crushed, baled and wagon dried with heat; and flail cut, 

 flail harvested and bam dried without heat. 



Crushed, baled, and wagon dried with heat was economically in- 

 ferior to the other systems, and this result is compatible with farmers' 

 experience with this system of forage harvesting. 



Although the flail cut, flail harvest system is particularly well 

 suited for small farms, it is not commonly used by farmers. The speed of 

 harvest may not be as rapid as many large farmers desire. However, Phase 

 I of the analysis showed the flail cut, flail harvest system to be 1 of the 

 more profitable systems. Its performance in terms of income was about 

 equal to the systems of harvest in which the hay was crushed, baled, 

 barn dried without heat. Preference of one of these systems over the 

 other would be based upon considerations or features not considered in 

 the simulation model. 



Crushing hay after mowing for quick drying generally cuts 1 day 

 off curing time. The addition of the crushing operation appreciably in- 

 creased income for June 1 and June 15 cut hay in all cases. For June 

 30 cut hay the advantage of the crusher in the system generally was 

 not as great, and under several situations was of no advantage in the 

 harvesting systems. From the analysis using three weather patterns, it 

 can be concluded that the crusher offers advantages in the early cut hay 

 operations.-* 



-^ For more detailed information on the 5 forage systems and the 3 grain feeding 

 systems, see Cloud, Op. Cit. 



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