trillion BTU could be realized; this is the energy equivalent of about 42 million 

 gallons of gasoline. 



However, the energy savings would increase the farmer's feed bill by more 

 than $61 million, or $1.16 per 100,000 BTU saved. Again, the cost of the 

 associated products would have to rise: milk by about five cents per 

 hundredweight; eggs by nearly three cents per dozen; turkey by three cents per 

 pound. 



The Pacific States. In contrast to the Corn Belt, the amount of fossil fuel 

 energy embodied in Pacific feed rations is greater than in any other region 

 considered. This is primarily a reflection of the fact that the Pacific States are 

 net importers of feed ingredients from distant suppliers (Table 6). However, the 



Table 6. Regional Summary of Least Cost and Least Energy Rations, Pacific, 1976 



energy involved in transport is not well reflected in the price of ingredients. 

 Thus, substantial energy savings could be achieved by substituting low energy 

 ingredients for those with a high BTU content. 



For example. Pacific dairymen will feed their cows about 2,250,000 tons of 

 commercially mixed feed this year. If the least energy dairy rations were fed, 

 nearly 3.9 trillion BTU could be saved over least cost feeding. This is comparable 

 to about 3 1 million gallons of gasoline. However, the cost of milk would have to 

 increase by more than 19 cents per hundredweight for farmers to break even, or 

 cover their increased feed cost. 



By feeding least energy beef rations, 2.2 trillion BTU could be saved. 

 Likewise, in feeding layers, broilers and turkeys energy savings on the magnitude 

 of 6.1 trillion BTU could be realized. To achieve these savings, the price of eggs 

 would have to increase by 7.5 cents per dozen, broilers by 1.6 cents per pound 

 and turkeys by 4.5 cents per pound. 



In the aggregate. Pacific farmers would see their feed cost increase by more 

 than $139 million (more than $20 per ton), or $1.14 per 100,000 BTU saved. 

 The total energy savings would be equivalent to the energy content of nearly 98 

 million gallons of gasoline. 



The Southern Plains. It is estimated that about five and one-half million tons 

 of commerciallv mixed feed will be consumed in the Southern Plains in 1976 

 (Table 7). If farmers in the region fed least energy rations rather than least cost 

 rations, nearlv 4.4 trillion BTU could be conserxed annually. This would 

 represent a regional savings of more than 1 5 percent and would be comparable 



