Comparison of feed costs

Press, 24 February 1978, Page 12

Comparison of feed costs

In these days of tight feed conditions Mr G. D. Miller, senior farm advisory officer with the Ministry of Agriculture at Rangiora. has produced some figures showing the relative cost of a range of feeds converted to a com-

m,on index of cents per kilogram of dry matter. Using these as a base further projections can be made. For a 100-day winter he said that a ewe will require an average of 1 kg of dry matter per day. Under rotational grass wintering using a half bale of hay per ewe at $1 per bale the cost is 0.5 c per kg of dry matter. If the bale costs $1.50 the cost per kg is 0.75 c. Where a turnip crop costing $65 per ha yields 3000 kg of dry matter per ha the cost per kg of dry matter is 2.17 c and where the crop is not so good giving 1000 kg of dry matter

per ha he puts the cost per kg of dry matter at 6.50 c. In the case of Tama ryegrass costing $BO per ha, he shows that for a good crop yielding 4000 kg of dry matter per ha the cost will be 2c per kg of dry matter and for a poor crop Yielding 1500 kg per ha 5.33 c. Grazing out at 20c per ewe per week costs 2.86 c per kg and at 50c per week 7.14 c. For a cow at a charge of $1 per week the cost per kg of drv matter is 3.17 c and at $2 6.35 c per kg. Where stock are fed on a Combination .of 50 per cent turnips and 50 per

cent hay where the hay is $1 per bale the cost per kg is 4.59 c and at $1.50 per bale 6.34 c.

Where the application of a unit of nitrogen at 41c per unit produces 5 kg of dry matter the cost is 8.20 c, if it produces 10 kg the cost is 4.10 c and if it gives 15 kg the cost is 2.73 c. An all hay diet at $1 per bale costs 7.14 c, at $1.50 10.71 c, $2 14.28 c and at $3 a bale 21.43 c.

The cost per kg of dry matter using barley at $lO5 per tonne is 12.35 c and f.or nuts at $l2O per tonne the comparative figure is 14.12 c and at $lBO per tonne 21.18 c.