Planning Hay and Water Needs for Your Herd

How Much Hay Does Your Herd Need?

Planning your hay supply starts with a simple equation: how many animals, how many days of feeding, and how much each animal eats per day. The formula is: Total Hay = Herd Size x Feeding Days x Daily Intake Per Animal. This gives you the base amount before accounting for waste.

Daily hay intake depends on the animal's size and production stage. A general rule of thumb for cattle is about 2% of body weight in dry matter per day. For a 600 kg (1,320 lb) beef cow at maintenance, that is about 12 kg (26 lb) of dry matter. Since hay is approximately 88% dry matter, the as-fed intake would be about 13.6 kg (30 lb) per day.

For planning purposes, most producers use a rounded figure. Ten kilograms (22 pounds) per day is a reasonable starting point for average-sized beef cows on maintenance. Lactating cows, growing cattle, and larger breeds will eat more. Smaller breeds, sheep, and goats eat proportionally less based on their body weight.

Feeding days vary by region and management. In cold climates, winter feeding may last 120-180 days. In milder areas, it might be 60-90 days. Some operations supplement pasture with hay year-round during dry periods. Use your actual feeding calendar from previous years as the best guide.

Bale Types and Sizes

Hay comes in several bale formats, each with different weights, handling requirements, and costs per ton:

• Small square bales: Typically 20 kg (45 lb) each. Easy to handle by one person, stack neatly in barns, and allow precise feeding amounts. However, they require more labor to produce and handle per ton of hay. Best for small operations, horse farms, and situations where manual handling is preferred.
• Large round bales: Typically 400-500 kg (900-1,100 lb) each. The most common format for beef cattle operations. Require a tractor with a bale spear or grapple to move. Can be stored outdoors (with some spoilage loss) or under cover. Lower production cost per ton than small squares.
• Large square bales: Typically 500-600 kg (1,100-1,300 lb) each. Dense and stackable, they store more efficiently than round bales and transport well. Require specialized equipment for both production and handling. Most economical per ton for large operations.

The choice of bale type affects how many bales you need — smaller bales mean more bales for the same total weight. It also affects your storage needs, equipment requirements, and labor. Choose based on what equipment you have available and your storage infrastructure.

Accounting for Waste

Not all the hay you buy ends up being eaten. Animals trample, soil, scatter, and refuse portions of every bale. The amount wasted depends primarily on how the hay is fed:

• Open ground feeding (no feeder): 25-30% waste. Animals walk on the hay, urinate and defecate on it, and scatter it across the ground. This is the most wasteful method and is common only when no feeder is available.
• Ring feeders: 10-20% waste (average about 15%). The most common feeder type for round bales. Animals pull hay through the openings, and some falls on the ground. Better designs with sheeted panels reduce waste toward the lower end.
• Cone feeders or covered feeders: 3-8% waste (average about 5%). The cone or cover forces the animal to eat from the top down, preventing most hay from falling on the ground. Higher initial cost but pays for itself quickly through reduced waste.

The waste factor is applied as an increase to your total hay need. If your herd needs 60,000 kg of hay and you have 15% waste, you actually need to purchase 69,000 kg (60,000 x 1.15). The extra 9,000 kg accounts for what will be wasted during feeding.

Reducing waste is one of the most cost-effective improvements a producer can make. Going from 30% waste (ground feeding) to 15% waste (ring feeder) on a 50-head operation feeding 120 days at 10 kg/day saves 9,000 kg of hay. At $150/tonne, that is $1,350 saved — often more than the cost of a feeder in a single season.

Water Requirements by Species

Water is often overlooked in feed planning, but livestock need reliable access to clean water year-round. Water requirements vary by species, body size, production stage, and temperature:

• Beef cattle: 22-65 liters per day depending on temperature. In cool weather (below 15 C / 60 F), a mature cow needs about 22 L. In moderate weather (15-25 C), about 40 L. In hot weather (above 25 C / 77 F), consumption can reach 65 L or more.
• Dairy cattle: 68-130 liters per day. Lactating dairy cows need roughly 3-4 liters of water for every liter of milk produced, on top of their maintenance needs. High-producing herds in hot weather need the most.
• Sheep: 4-10 liters per day. Sheep need less water by body weight than cattle but are just as sensitive to quality and availability.
• Swine: 6-18 liters per day. Lactating sows need the most. Growing pigs need about 6 L per day.
• Poultry: About 20 liters per 100 birds per day. Water intake increases substantially in hot weather.

Temperature is the single biggest factor in water consumption. Hot weather can double or triple water needs compared to cool weather. When planning water infrastructure, always size for peak summer demand, not average conditions.

Putting It All Together

Here is a practical example for a 50-head beef cattle operation planning for a 120-day winter feeding period:

1. Estimate daily intake: 50 cows eating 10 kg/day each = 500 kg of hay per day for the whole herd.
2. Calculate base feed need: 500 kg/day x 120 days = 60,000 kg (60 tonnes) of hay total.
3. Add waste factor: Using ring feeders at 15% waste: 60,000 x 1.15 = 69,000 kg (69 tonnes).
4. Calculate bale count: Using large round bales at 450 kg each: 69,000 / 450 = 153.3, rounded up to 154 bales.
5. Estimate cost: At $45 per bale: 154 x $45 = $6,930 for the season.
6. Plan water: In moderate weather, 50 cows need about 2,000 L/day (50 x 40 L). Over 120 days, that is 240,000 L (240 cubic meters). Size your water system for hot-weather peak demand of 3,250 L/day (50 x 65 L).

Add a 10-15% buffer to your bale count to cover storage losses, unexpectedly long winters, or additional animals. It is always better to have leftover hay in spring than to run short in late winter when prices peak.

Tips for Reducing Feed Costs

• Buy early. Hay prices are typically lowest right after harvest in summer. Waiting until winter often means paying 20-40% more per bale. Secure your supply by late summer if storage is available.
• Store properly. Outdoor storage of round bales without cover can lose 15-25% of bale weight to weather damage before feeding begins. Store on well-drained ground, elevated on pallets or gravel, and cover with tarps or store in a shed. The cost of a hay barn pays for itself in reduced spoilage.
• Invest in better feeders. The difference between 30% waste (ground feeding) and 5% waste (cone feeder) is enormous. On a 50-head herd, this saves about 15,000 kg of hay per season. A good feeder costs $500-1,500 and lasts 10+ years.
• Test your forage. Knowing the actual nutrient content of your hay helps you avoid over-supplementing. If your hay tests higher in protein than expected, you may not need that expensive protein supplement.
• Consider alternative forages. Crop residues (corn stalks, wheat straw), annual forages (sorghum-sudan, oats), and stockpiled fescue can reduce hay needs at a lower cost. These are not replacements for hay but can extend your supply.
• Manage body condition. Maintaining cows in moderate body condition (BCS 5-6) going into winter reduces feed needs compared to trying to put condition on thin cows during the most expensive feeding period.