How much hay do I feed

Muddy Boots · #1 10/14/10, 08:29 PM

This is the first year I have raised beef and now I that the grass has stopped growing I need to feed hay. I bought some 1st cutting hay that has little if any alfalfa. I also have some 2nd cutting that is 30-40% alfalfa.We have two beef cows that I am guessing weight around 800# each. I just don't know how many #'s of hay I should be feeding them. We are not feeding any grain just hay. Thanks

springvalley · #2 10/14/10, 08:57 PM

I would save the alfalfa for the winter when it`s colder, stemmy hay makes more heat. Feed your grass hay in a feeder so they don`t waste it, only feed what they will clean up in a few hours. Allways watch your cattle for condition and feed accordingly. Are these cows or steers? >Thanks Marc

MO_cows · #3 10/14/10, 09:26 PM

General rule of thumb 3% of their body weight per day. So if they really do weigh 800 lbs, that's 24 lbs per day each. Sounds like you have square bales? Weigh one and divide accordingly. Mostly it's just watching their condition like Marc said. Make 'em clean it up, they might pick the leaves from the alfalfa first and waste the stems if you let them.