UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA FEED REQUIREMENTS FOR CALIFORNIA LIVESTOCK AND POULTRY PRODUCTION 1 In order to meet increasing demands for defi- nite information on feed requirements of the livestock and poultry industries in California, the Divisions of Animal Husbandry and Poultry Husbandry in cooperation with the Agricultural Extension Service of the College of Agriculture have assembled the data shown in tables 1 and 2 (page 2). Table 1 gives the numbers and production of California livestock and poultry in 1942. The estimated amounts of grain, high-protein concen- trates, hay, silage, and pasture that were re- quired to produce the animals and birds are shown in table 2. Based upon the inventory numbers of livestock and poultry on January 1, 1943, as compared with those of a year earlier, it seems reasonable to suppose that even larger quantities of feeds, particularly grains and protein concentrates, will be needed in 1943 than were used in 1942. Hogs and poultry are heavy users of grains and protein concentrates and production of both of these classes of farm animals promises to be considerably larger this year than last. Beef Cattle The beef cattle inventory numbers represent all cattle and calves on California farms January 1 other than milk cows and dairy heifers one to two years of age. The total pounds of beef produced in California in 1942 include the live weight of beef cattle and calves slaughtered plus the gain in inventory numbers figured at 325 pounds per head. Based upon records of inspected slaughter and estimates of the number of dairy cattle and calves included in such slaughter, it is esti- mated that a total of 779,000 head of beef cattle and calves from California ranges and feed lots was slaughtered in 1942. Of this number, ap- proximately 739,000 head were cattle and approxi- mately 40,000 head were calves. In calculating the live weight of animals slaughtered, 930 pounds was used as the average weight of beef cattle and 275 pounds as the average weight of ^-Prepared by G. B. Alcorn, D. T. Batchelder, L. W. Fluharty, G. E. Gordon, W. E. Newlon, L. H. Rochford, V. M. Shepard , Arthur Shultis, and Wallace Sullivan, all of the Agricultural Extension Service; H. J. Almquist, V. S. Asmundson, S. Lepkovsky and L. W. Taylor, of the Division of Poultry Husbandry; H. R. Guilbert , G. H. Hart, E. H. Hughes, R. F. Miller, and W. M. Regan, of the Division of Animal Husbandry. beef calves. From the total poundage thus ob- tained, there was deducted the estimated arrival weight of the 367,000 head of stockers and feed- ers brought into the state. The production of beef in feed lots in 1942 is estimated at 73 million pounds, or 15 per cent of the total. This was based upon 290,000 head and an average gain of 250 pounds per head. The gain of 250 pounds per head may be somewhat high, but it should compensate for the omission in the esti- mates of total feed requirements of the supple- mental feeding of those cattle which are full-fed on the range. On irrigated pastures the production of beef in 1942 was estimated at 60 million pounds — 13 per cent of the total. This estimate was based upon the use of 150,000 acres of irrigated pas- ture and a gain of 400 pounds live weight per acre. Beef production from range, nonirrigated pas- ture, and field cleanup was derived by subtract- ing from total production the estimated quantities produced in feed lots and on irrigated pastures. The 342 million pounds thus obtained is 72 per cent of the total. Based upon the estimated average feed-lot ra- tion, 367 pounds of nonlegume hay, 158 pounds of legume hay, 273 pounds of grain, 158 pounds of beet pulp (dry equivalent), 52 pounds of molasses, and 42 pounds of protein concentrate are required to produce 100 pounds of live-weight gain. This average ration contains about 10.8 per cent total protein or 7.4 per cent digestible protein. Ac- cording to enterprise-efficiency studies, 216 pounds of hay and 21.8 pounds of concentrates are used in addition to grazing for each 100 pounds of gain produced from range production. It was estimated that 70 per cent of the hay was non- legume and 80 per cent of the concentrate was pro- tein feed. These data have been used in calculat- ing total feed requirements other than range, field cleanup, and irrigated pasture. Dairy Cattle The dairy cow population was the same on Janu- ary 1, 1943, as on January 1, 1942, namely 786,000 head. The number of dairy heifers, however, was 3 per cent larger. Official data on the quantity of milk products marketed from California farms during 1942 are not yet available. In 1941 such quantity amounted to approximately 181 million pounds of milk fat. En- terprise-efficiency studies indicate that the milk fat marketed represents about 90 per cent of the [1] Uh.. ;FOKNlA RY COLLI.'.. :<JCULTURE DAVIS TABLE 1 Number of California Livestock and Poultry, and Production by Classes *Milk cows two years old and older, t Stock animals. tHens and pullets of laying age. ^Breeding hens. Number on farms Production from farms and feed lots in 1942 Jan. 1, 194-2 Jan. 1, 1943 Meat ( live weight ) Milk (4 per cent fat) Eggs Wool thousands thousands million pounds million pounds million dozen million pounds Beef cattle and calves 1,526 1,545 475 Dairy cattle 786* 786* 236 5,133 Hogs 894 1,019 197 Sheep 2,977 t 2,828t 162 24 Chickens 12,494* 14,034* 60 159 Turkeys 428 § 492 § 58 TABLE 2 Feed Requirements for California Livestock and Poultry in 1942 Barley ( or equiva- lent ) Protein concentrate (40 per cent ecmiva- lent) Legume hay Non- legume hay Silage or soilage Pasture and range Irrigated Nonirrigated Beef cattle and calves Dairy cattle Hogs Sheep Chickens Turkeys thousand tons 176 177 352 20 473 115 thousand tons 45 44 46 10 146 25 thousand tons 168 2,623 21 121 27 10 thousand tons 391 816 78 thousand tons 432 74 36 thousand acres 150 224 23 120 thousand acres 40,000 1,050 18,000 Totals 1,313 316 2,970 1,285 542 517 59,050 [2] milk fat produced. On this basis, total produc- tion of milk fat in California in 1941 would be around 201 million pounds, which is equivalent to 5,025 million pounds of 4 per cent milk. The average milk production per cow in 1941 was in the neighborhood of 6,530 pounds. Applying this figure to the number of milk cows in 1942, namely 786,000, would indicate a total production of milk this past year of 5,133 million pounds. The annual slaughter of dairy cattle and calves adds materially to the state's meat supply. On the average the dairy herds of the state con- tribute about 300 pounds of meat annually for each milk cow two years of age and over. In 1942 it is estimated that a total of 236 million pounds of dairy meat (live weight) was produced. This figure includes cull cows, cull heifers, bulls, and veal calves sent to slaughter, but it does not include dairy calves raised to yearlings and beyond and sold as beef cattle. Dairy cattle receive a wide variety of feeds including not only various grains and hays but also many by-product concentrates. Enterprise- efficiency studies made in various sections of the state indicate that the following amounts of feed will be sufficient to maintain the average dairy cow for one year, to produce 6,530 pounds of 4 per cent milk, and to provide for the annual proportion of her replacement cost: 8,750 pounds of legume hay, 450 pounds of barley or equivalent, 112 pounds of 40 per cent protein concentrate, 1,100 pounds of silage and soilage, and 8.1 ani- mal-unit months of pasture. Hogs The inventory of hogs in California January 1, 1943, was probably the largest in the history of the state. Producers responded to the call for greater production during the war by an increase in numbers farrowed and saved and by marketing at heavier weights. The pig synthesizes fats from carbohydrates which become available as lard. The estimated number of California hogs produced in 1942 was 985,000. The tonnage of live hogs given in table 1 is the result of multiplying the number of California hogs produced by 200 pounds, the estimated average weight of those killed. The feed requirements shown in table 2 are based on the fact that it takes about 500 pounds of feed to produce 100 pounds of live hog. This figure includes the feed consumed by the breeding herd as well as those fattened and marketed. If pasture, legume hay, stubble, and waste products are deducted from this figure, it is estimated that 400 pounds of concentrates are actually re- quired. This includes grain and protein concen- trates from both animal and plant sources. In the 352 thousand tons of barley or its equivalent, there are included grain sorghums, wheat, and gar- bage. The most commonly fed protein concentrates are tankage, fish meal, soybean meal, linseed meal, cottonseed meal, and by-products of the dairy. Inspected slaughter of hogs in California in 1942 amounted to 1,977,000 head. Of this number about 40 per cent originated in California and about 60 per cent in other states, mainly Idaho, Nebraska, and Texas. Sheep On January 1, 1942, there were 2,977,000 head of stock sheep in California not including lambs on feed. During the spring 464,000 head of lambs were shipped out of the state, although during the year a total of 1,445,000 head of sheep and lambs was shipped into the state. Of these 990,000 were for immediate slaughter and 455,000 were stockers and feeders. The total pounds of sheep and lambs produced from California farms and feed lots in 1942 amounted to 162 million, based on an average live weight of 82 pounds for lambs and 110 pounds for sheep. Approximately 67 per cent of the sheep and lamb output is produced on range land (including some supplemental feeding) , 29 per cent on irri- gated pastures, 3 per cent in feed lots, and 1 per cent on beet tops. Fattening lambs on irrigated pastures is an important branch of the sheep industry and it is estimated 120,000 acres are utilized by lambs. Approximately 250,000 lambs are fattened in feed lots and 100,000 on beet tops annually in Cali- fornia. The production per acre is highest in irrigated pastures, namely about 400 pounds; in feed lots, 354 pounds; on beet tops, 70 pounds; and on range lands, 6 pounds. The latter is low since it includes not only farm and foothill areas but also the mountain areas, many of which have a very low carrying capacity. During the grazing season the average amount of range land used per animal is around 6.4 acres. An acre of irrigated pasture ordinarily provides sufficient feed over the entire grazing season to finish about 22 lambs. Only about one third of these lambs are on the pasture at any one time. The supplemental feed fed to breeding ewes on the range and farm is estimated at 150 pounds of roughage and 32 pounds of concentrates, according to enterprise-efficiency studies. The roughage is probably 60 per cent legume hay and 40 per cent volunteer grain and bur clover hay. Due to the fact that hay alone is fed in many cases, it was estimated that only one half of the breeding ewes receive concentrates which are composed of 50 per cent protein supplement and 50 per cent corn, barley, or equivalent. The net production of lambs per breeding ewe averages about 65 pounds live weight annually. The California wool clip for 1942 amounted to 24 million pounds, and was obtained from 3,429,000 sheep and lambs. The average clip per animal was about 7 pounds. Poultry Inventory numbers of hens and pullets of laying age in California were 12 per cent larger on Janu- ary 1, 1943, than a year earlier; while inventory numbers of turkey breeding hens were 15 per cent larger. The amount of chicken meat produced includes [3] cull hens and broilers from laying flocks and com- mercial production of broilers, fryers, and roast- ers. Egg production in 1942 is based upon an av- erage of 161 eggs per hen for the average number of hens in the flocks. The quantities of feed consumed by the chick- ens and turkeys were derived from enterprise- efficiency studies, and the composition of the rations fed the different classes of birds was that recommended by the California Agricultural Experiment Station. Of the total quantity of feed consumed by chickens in 1942, about 73 per cent was required for egg production and about 27 per cent for meat production. The production of other forms of poultry such as ducks, geese, pigeons, and squabs, is rela- tively small. Data are not available which will make possible accurate estimation of feed re- quirements for production of these forms of poultry. General Statement on the Animal-Eeed Situation The general livestock feed situation is ac- companied by many unpredictable features. The present serious shortage of protein feeds is due to several factors: 1. Milk production all going directly into human consumption. 2. Failure of normal imports to this coast in- volving copra and oil-bearing seeds from the Pacific area and meat scrap from South America. 3. Reduction in production of fish meal on the Pacific Coast due to commandeering of fishing boats and other war conditions. Possible available supplies for the 1943 season estimated on a 40 per cent protein basis are as follows : Tons Coconut meal 10,000 Cottonseed meal 65 ,000 Linseed meal 90 ,000 Fish meal 100 ,000 Tankage meal 35, 000 Soybean meal 100,000 Total 400,000 The roughage situation makes the picture more involved. The estimated 1942 hay production of 4,871,000 tons is divided as follows: Tons Alfalfa hay 3,440,000 Grain hay 1 , 164 , 000 Wild hay 267 , 000 In the surplus-hay-producing area farm machin- ery and manpower may not be available to harvest and particularly to bale the hay produced in 1943. This tends to reduce the quantity moving into nor- mal channels of trade creating scarcity in de- ficient-hay-producing areas as particularly oc- curred in Los Angeles County last winter. Under such conditions hay feeding is reduced to a mini- mum (8-15 pounds per cow per day) and concentrates, particularly proteins, increase 25 to 50 per cent. This throws off the estimates of concentrates re- quired. Under the law of averages a dry year can be expected at any time. It is now overdue. Natural vegetation on ranges and unirrigated pas- ture lands is still of great importance. Should it fail from a moderately dry year all estimates would be wrong. Despite warnings from various sources inven- tories of all species of farm animals are rising and estimates of feed required are based on lower numbers than actually exist. Too many animals in relation to feed supply will tend to reduce pro- duction rather than increase it. Prices on slaughter animals, dairy, and poultry products are such that all animals on farms are being fed unusually well. Equitable distribution of available supplies to all areas is going to be difficult. Cali- fornia for many years has been long on protein feeds and has tended to feed them at higher levels than necessary. To change this practice will be a problem. Mixing of all feeds at central plants will not solve it , will create serious an- tagonism, and is to be deprecated. Such a pro- cedure is entirely impractical in supplementing the range feed for stocker and feeder cattle un- der poor feed conditions on our ranges. It can thus be readily seen that the over-all picture is very cloudy. Nevertheless, understanding and co- operation by all individuals and groups in the production field, aided by an informed government, will be necessary to prevent lack of feed for ani- mals resulting in lack of food for people. We need every form of both roughage and concentrates to be produced to the limit, harvested efficient- ly, and used knowingly. Exports from the state, particularly to Hawaii, are involved. The draw- ing of such supplies from a deficient area such as California can lead to serious complications unless means are provided for replacing such ex- ports. Sources of Data 1. California Cooperative Crop Reporting Service. Animal livestock report. Inventory numbers and value. January 1, 1943- Summary for 1942. March 24, 1943- (Mimeo.) 2. United States Bureau of Agricultural Economics. Meat animals--farm production and income, 1941-1942. April, 1943. (Mimeo.) 3. United States Bureau of Agricultural Economics. Farm production and income, chickens and eggs, 1941-42. March, 1943. 4. United States Bureau of Agricultural Economics. Farm production and income from turkeys, 1941- 42. April, 1943- 5. California Bureau of Dairy Service. Statisti- cal report of California milk products, 1941. Special Bui. 191:1-80. 1942. 6. California Agricultural Extension Service. Enterprise-efficiency studies, published and unpublished reports. 7. Asmundson, V. S. and T. H. Jukes. Turkey production in California. California Agr. Ext. Cir. 110:1-78. 1939. 8. Almquist, H. J., T. H. Jukes, and W. E. Newlon. Supplement to California Agricultural Exten- sion Service Circular 108. 2 p. 1942. [4] 5m-7, '43(6965)