ABSTRACT 



This research report estimates the magnitude of the potential that exists to 

 conserve fossil fuel energy in feeding livestock and poultry in six regions of the 

 U.S. Comparing the quantity of energy contained in least cost feed rations with 

 that embodied in energy minimizing rations, it was found that more than 37 

 trillion BTU could be conserved annually. This is the energy equivalent of nearly 

 298 million gallons of gasoline. 



However, this energy savings would not be without a substantial cost to 

 farmers and ultimately consumers. Farmers would have to pay about $13 more 

 per ton of feed, or in the aggregate about $490 million in additional feed cost (in 

 the six regions). The cost of the associated products would have to rise to meet 

 this increased feed cost: milk by 3 to 25 cents per hundredweight, eggs by 2.5 to 

 7.5 cents per dozen, broilers by 1.3 to 2 cents per pound and turkeys by 3 to 4.5 

 cents per pound. Thus, while considerable energy savings are possible, the cost of 

 such savings would appear to be prohibitive at the present time. 



KEYWORDS: Energy Conservation, Energy Use, Feed Rations, Dairy, Beef, 

 Layers, Broilers, Turkeys, Swine, Least Cost Rations, Least 

 Energy Rations. 



