If hay being fed is 85% dry matter, the cow would need 35 lb. of the hay to meet the 30-lb. dry-matter intake requirement. In this scenario, 50 cows would need 1,750 lb. of hay a day.

If those 50 cows average 1,300 lb. rather than 1,000 lb., they would need about 2,300 lb. of hay a day.

“If we are going to feed those 50 1,300-pound cows hay from January 1 until April 10 (99 days), they would consume almost 114 tons of hay. The key word being ‘consume,’” says Meusch. Handling, storing and feeding hay can lead to considerable waste. “If we assume a total rate of waste to be 20%, we need to have 137 tons of hay on hand to meet our needs.”

With some minor adjustments, these calculations can be made for any type, class, size or number of livestock, he says. Whether it is one horse, 50 cows or 150 sheep, it is important to think through what your animals will need to consume through the winter to make sure there is enough feed on hand.

2. Assess forage inventory

When you have a good estimate of your animals’ needs, the next step is to take stock of how much forage (pasture, hay, etc.) you have. Evaluate your pastures and determine how much grazing you can do before you will need to feed hay. The more days you can spend grazing, the fewer days you will need to feed hay.

Hay bales don’t come in standard weights, so it is important to determine how much the hay bales weigh. Bale weights vary even if they are the same size. Depending on the density, a 4-by-5-foot round bale might weigh anywhere from 750 lb. to 950 lb., which is a difference of more than 20%. In our example, 137 tons would require 365 750-lb. bales, but only 288 950-lb. bales.

3. Project needs for supplements

In this part of the country, stockpiled fescue pasture can make excellent winter feed, Missouri’s Meusch says. If cattle on pasture can meet their daily intake requirements (the pasture is not less than 4 inches in height), the nutritional quality will usually meet their needs. But, hay can vary greatly in nutritional quality, and it’s important to supplement any nutrients the hay is lacking.

This can be done by testing the hay and developing a supplemental ration to fill in the gaps. Mixed grass hay in Missouri often tests sufficient for crude protein (CP), but insufficient in total digestible nutrients (TDN, the measure for energy). If the cows in our example are fall-calving cows with young calves, they need a diet that is more than 60% TDN. If our hay is 55% TDN, we would need to provide a higher-energy supplement to make up for what the hay is lacking.

“Hopefully, following these basic steps can help you determine how well you have planned for feeding your livestock this winter,” says Meusch.

Livestock prices have been high, but it’s still important for producers to control their winter feed costs. If you find you don’t have enough hay on hand to get through the winter, it’s much cheaper and easier to buy now than it will be in late winter. Another option is to sell livestock so your animal needs better match your feeding budget.

In the end, one of the best ways to control winter feeding costs is through better pasture and grazing management, Meusch says. The more days animals graze, the more producers can reduce the need for hay and supplements.

If you have questions about plans for winter feeding, testing hay or determining needs for supplemental feeds, contact your local MU Extension center for assistance, Meusch advises.

Editor’s note: This article provided by MU Extension.

Angus Beef Bulletin EXTRA, Vol. 16, No. 12-A