How much Hay

stifflej · #1 09/12/08, 02:19 PM

not planning on getting a calf or two until spring, but was curious how much hay I would need for the winter per calf. Most likely will be getting (2) Black Angus calves in the spring, which will graze all summer, but come fall and winter, will need to feed hay. How much hay is needed to get a calf through the winter? I am located in PA, so winters can be cold and snowy. I have seen many figures in lbs, but would really like a translation into either square bales (roughly 18"x24"36" or round bales either 4'x4' or 4'x5').

This will help me calculate costs easier.

Thanks.

topside1 · #2 09/12/08, 02:42 PM

7-10% of their body weight. This is also dependent on effecient of a feeding system you have and the quality of hay you purchase. So a 300 pound calf would need roughly 25-30 pounds of hay per day. Another factor to consider is how much grain you may be feeding during the winter, if any.

sammyd · #3 09/12/08, 06:09 PM

Figure half a good small square each per day. May have to boost that up a bit towards spring if you keep em growing.
That's about what we feed plus 2-4 pounds of 16% grain mix a day each.

Tiffin · #4 09/13/08, 06:12 AM

It also depends on how you feed the hay as they will waste a lot of it if just thrown over to them. They love to eat and then lay in it and subsequently manure it up. We're trying round bale feeders this coming winter to slow this down a bit. We tried a feeder wagon last year; that didn't work. They just pulled the hay out and onto the ground then laid in it. It built up so bad over the winter the wagon practically disappeared, lol.

stifflej · #5 09/24/08, 01:04 PM

What have you experienced guys found to be the most efficient way for feeding your hay? I was thinking of building a wall feeder that would hold a small square bale. If I do this, should I build a "catch" under it so that I can recycle the hay that falls?

Thanks.

agmantoo · #6 09/24/08, 05:06 PM

The most efficient method I have tried when I was feeding hay was to feed on clean ground with the hay spread in a long row. All the animals will be able to eat, from the most timid or smallest to the biggest bull. Only put out what they will totally cleanup in a 45 minute time period. Do this twice per day. There will be no waste.