A maximum profit linear programming feedlot model is presented to determine if diet combinations of moderate amounts of hay and grain are economically optimal when time (length of the feeding period), form of hay (long versus cubed alfalfa), and carcass quality are considered. While the experiment did not include concentrate-to-hay ratios as high as commercial feedlot use, the results show that highest concentrate diets are economical in all stages of the finishing program, except that when time and carcass grade effects are considered and hay-to-concentrate price ratios are at historical lows, a switch is made for the last 90 kg of grain to diets somewhat above 50% hay.
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