As you can see, it s going to take a lot of time and a lot of grain to get that much weight gain. You will also need to replace some forage to make room for the grain. So let s take a look at the forages. My estimate is that Steve s hay and pasture is providing respectively, about and of the total diet. The quality of forages can have a large effect on energy intake.
Leaves are always more digestible than stems so more leaves equals more energy.
Grasp the stem bunch with both hands close together. Twist your fists in opposite directions and feel how hard or easy it is to twist the stem bunch in half. The easier it is to twist the stems apart, the more digestible the forage. The twist test works well on dry alfalfa hay and green grass, but may be difficult with moist alfalfa and grass or oat hays. You can test these forages by keeping the stem bunch tight and slowly cutting through with scissors.