A Method for Estimating the Feed-Replacement Value of Pasture Forage

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Abstract
Fifteen pairs of high-producing cows were selected. The cows of a pair were nearly alike in wt., stages of lactation and gestation and level of milk yield. One cow of each pair was assigned at random to the "pasture group" and the other to the "dry-lot group." The pasture group was allowed access to a pasture of known area and was given grain mixture as the only supplementary feed. The dry-lot group received only silage, beet pulp and the same kind of grain mixture as that given the pasture group. The expt. lasted 18 wks. The production of the 2 groups was not significantly different. The method of calculating the feed-replacement value of the pasture is to find the difference between the amts. of feed, other than pasture, given the 2 groups of cows. For this expt., the difference amounted to 3739 lbs. silage, 2017 lbs. hay, 175 lbs. beet pulp and 510 lbs. grain mixture. Dividing each of these amts. by 38.38, the yield per acre of F.C.M. (fat-corrected milk) in cwt., gives the feed replacement value per 100 lbs. F.C.M.

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