Producers want to meet the cow’s nutrient requirement, but they sure don’t want to overfeed expensive forages. Because it was dry this summer and harvested forages are expensive, it will be important to get a good idea of how much feed will be needed to get through this part of the winter in order to keep costs down. In addition, cattle have a certain requirement for specific nutrients such as protein, energy, and minerals and vitamins.
Knowing how much hay a beef cow eats per day is crucial information for cattle ranchers and farmers Properly estimating and allocating the winter hay supply can mean the difference between profit and loss on a cattle operation
As the seasons change and the quality of pasture declines, hay becomes the primary source of nutrients for beef cattle. While cattle can meet some of their nutritional needs from lower quality dormant pasture hay is a vital part of the winter feeding program.
There are several factors that determine how much hay a beef cow will consume per day:
Body Weight
Heavier cows require more hay than lighter cows. A 1300 lb cow will eat more hay per day than an 1100 lb cow when fed the same forage. Generally speaking, intake increases as body weight increases.
Stage of Production
Lactating cows have higher nutritional requirements than dry cows. They will voluntarily eat more hay per day than cows who are not lactating. For example, a 1200 lb dry cow may consume 2.0% of body weight while a 1200 lb lactating cow can consume 2.3% of body weight or more daily.
Forage Quality
Higher quality forage contains more nutrients so less is required to meet the nutritional needs of cattle. Higher quality forage also passes through the rumen more rapidly which stimulates appetite and increases intake.
As a rule of thumb:
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Low quality forage (<6% protein) – dry cows consume ~1.5% of body weight, lactating cows consume ~2.0%
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Average forage (6-8% protein) – dry cows consume 2.0-2.1%, lactating cows consume 2.3%
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High quality forage (>8% protein) – dry cows consume 2.1-2.2%, lactating cows consume 2.5% or more
Using the quality guidelines above, a 1200 lb dry cow fed average quality hay at 2.0% of body weight would eat 24 lb of hay (on a 100% dry matter basis).
Estimating As-Fed Intake
The consumption rates above are on a 100% dry matter basis. Since hay contains moisture, we must make adjustments to estimate intake on an “as-fed” basis.
Grass hay is generally around 90% dry matter. Taking the example above, if the hay is 90% dry matter and 10% moisture, then the estimated as-fed intake is 26.7 lb/day (24 lb / 0.90).
Higher moisture feeds like silage or greenchop need a greater adjustment. With 35% dry matter silage, a cow eating 24 lb (dry matter) would consume 68 lb as-fed per day (24 lb / 0.35).
Wastage Factor
When feeding hay in large round bales, significant wastage can occur. Research estimates hay wastage from round bale feeding at 15-20%.
Adjusting for 15% hay wastage, the as-fed intake of 26.7 lb of hay would require daily allocation of 31 lb/cow.
Estimating Total Hay Needs
With the information above, beef producers can accurately estimate:
- Daily hay intake per cow on an as-fed basis
- The number of days hay feeding is required
- Average bale weights
Combining these factors allows calculation of the total hay required to feed the herd for the winter period. A bit of cushion on estimated needs provides insurance against running short.
Accurately predicting hay intake sets cattle producers up for success. Oversupplying hay ties up assets while inadequate supply leads to expensive emergency purchases and supplemental feeding.
Some key takeaways on beef cow hay consumption per day:
- Intake is based on cow body weight, stage of production, and forage quality
- Quality forage supports higher levels of intake
- Consumption is estimated on a dry matter basis then adjusted to as-fed
- Wastage increases amount that must be allocated
- Total needs determined by multiplying daily intake by period fed
With proper planning and disciplined allocation of winter hay, cattlemen can manage costs and maintain the body condition of the herd. Monitoring consumption and weighing groups of cows enables making adjustments in response to weather extremes or changes in forage quality.
Accurately estimating beef cow hay intake removes some of the guesswork from winter cattle feeding. While each operation is different, the guidelines provided give a solid basis for determining hay needs. Management is about controlling costs and using resources efficiently. Determining hay demand is fundamental to keeping cattle fed and expenses in check during the winter.
Dry matter vs. as is
It can be hard for me to explain to my first-year students the difference between intake on a dry-matter (DM) basis and an as-is basis, especially when nutrients for beef cows are on a DM basis. Intake on a DM basis means that the forage doesn’t include moisture. We do know, though, that the forages do have water in them, and not all of them have the same amount. So, if the amount of forage eaten can be found using DM, it is easy to change it to an “as-is” or “as-fed” basis. As an example, if it were determined the daily DM intake of a group of 1,200-pound (lb. ) cows eating an average-quality hay was 24 lb. Considering that the hay they ate was mostly dry matter, we were able to figure out that these cows would eat about 287 pounds. (24 lb. ÷ 0. 88) per head per day on an as-fed basis. If the same group of 1,200-lb. There was a part of the cows’ food that said they should be fed 10 pounds of corn silage. Assuming that the corn silage is 65% water and 35% dry matter per head per day on a DM basis, the amount of corn silage in the diet would be 28% of the total. 5 lb. (10 ÷ 0. 35) per head per day on an as-fed basis. Remember that of the 28. 5 lb. of silage, 18. 5 lb. is water and 10 lb. is silage.
| Forage type | Class of cattle1 | DM capacity2, % | DM capacity3, lb./hd./day |
| Low-quality forages (52% TDN; dry native range, straw, stalks) | Dry cow Lactating cow | 1.8% 2.0% | 20-22 lb. 22-24 lb. |
| Avg.-quality forages (53%-59% TDN; native hay, bromegrass hay, alfalfa) | Dry cow Lactating cow | 2.0% 2.3% | 22-24 lb. 25-28 lb. |
| High-quality forages (>59% TDN; alfalfa, boot-stage hay) | Dry cow Lactating cow | 2.5% 2.7% | 28-30 lb. 30-33 lb. |
| Green pasture | Dry cow Lactating cow | 2.5% 2.7% | 28-30 lb. 30-33 lb. |
| Silage | Dry cow Lactating cow | 2.5% 2.7% | 28-30 lb. 30-33 lb. |
| 11,100- to 1,200-lb. cow. | |||
| 2Capacity as a % of body weight. | |||
| 3Total daily intake, dry-matter basis. | |||
How To Feed A Beef Cow (Corn VS Hay)
FAQ
How many bales of hay does a cow need for winter?
How much hay does a 500 pound calf eat?
What is the daily feed requirement for beef cattle?
Can you feed cows too much hay?
How much Hay does a cow need?
Well, that’s included in the 3-pound requirement, as a beef cow may actually need about 2.5 pounds of forage dry matter, but keep in mind that cows will indeed waste a good amount of feed. So, let’s say we have a herd of 18 brood cows that average 1200 pounds. 18 cows X 12 hundreds body weight X 3 pounds per hundred = 648 pounds of dry hay.
How much hay do 18 cows eat a day?
So, let’s say we have a herd of 18 brood cows that average 1200 pounds. 18 cows X 12 hundreds body weight X 3 pounds per hundred = 648 pounds of dry hay. Well, how convenient for us! A typical 4 x 4 round bale of dry hay will weigh about 670 pounds, so presto! One round bale a day works out well for our 18-cow herd!
How much hay should a cow eat before calving?
The cow herd’s needs for 1 month prior to calving (when dry cow requirements are the greatest) are 2.19 lbs of CP intake per day. Based on step 1, the cow will consume 2.4 lbs of CP per day (24 lbs DMI x 0.10 % CP of hay). Therefore, this hay will slightly exceed required CP intake during late gestation for the cow herd. Step 3.
How much hay do you feed a live animal?
It is relatively simple, at least in theory. You must plan on feeding about 3 pounds of forage dry matter for every 100 pounds of live animal. I don’t want to complicate this presentation with all kinds of conversions between dry hay, haylage, baleage, corn silage, and green chop. I will just mention that its all done by adjusting for moisture.