Amount of hay

[taylorlambert]

Im about to get a calf traded to me for some excavator work. I have a mini round baler that bales aboutthe size of a square bale. I have a nice pasture a lady lets me cut for the hay. I want to may shure Ill have enough hay for a years supply. I will reserve a few for running through the feed mill Im restoring. I d like to have a rough idea on what to put back for year for the one calf. I know it will vary between breeds and ages.

[springvalley]

A bale a day is a good average, little less now and a bit more later. > Marc

[Tom in TN]

Taylor,

I live in Middle Tennessee - a little farther north than you do. As a rule of thumb, I plan to feed hay 100 days a year beginning in mid-December. (This past year, because of the drought and heat last summer, I actually began feeding hay on October 1.)

Other than those 100 days, the cattle eat grass from the pasture and I supplement the grass with about 3 lbs. of 12 % cattle feed per cow per day plus free-choice minerals.

I plan on about 3% to 4% of the cows' body weight per day of hay during those 100 days of hay feeding. (I actually feed a little more during the really cold weather and a little less as I taper off the hay in March.)

So, depending on the number and size of the cattle you are feeding this winter, plus the size of your small hay bales, you'll probably need 1/2 to 1 bale per head per day for a little less than 100 days.

At least, that's what I do. Your mileage may vary.

Good luck.

Tom in TN

[Callieslamb]

I have a 8 mo old jersey steer that is eating 1/2 a bale a day with grain supplement. A full-grown cow here gets 1 bale a day. I have to steers 2 months old and they eat 2 flakes a day (about 1/4 of a bale).

[wildfrogs1]

Depending on what else your feeding the calf and how much gain you want you may want to check the protein % of your hay.

Good Luck