What percentage weight/hay?

bluefish · #1 09/17/12, 12:41 PM

I know this has been asked but I can't find it by searching, so I remember reading that cows eat a percentage of their weight daily. What's that percentage? I'm trying to figure rough amount of hay needed this winter.

Thanks!

Bret · #2 09/17/12, 12:51 PM

For dry matter like hay, estimte 3% of their weight or 30 lbs. per day for a 1,000 cow.

myersfarm · #3 09/17/12, 02:25 PM

^^^^ what he said

topside1 · #4 09/17/12, 02:27 PM

Bret is right, 3% intake. I factor in waste so I usually tell people 4% depending on your hay feeding set up. I'd rather buy to much hay, than to little...Topside

oregon woodsmok · #5 09/17/12, 02:32 PM

It's going to depend upon the quality if the hay. 20 pounds of premium alfalfa will do it, but they might need 40-50 pounds of junky poorly cured fescue hay.

Use feeders so they can't stand on the hay and pee on it.

topside1 · #6 09/17/12, 02:43 PM

Think rumen capacity, think 3%. If the stomach can only hold 3% total hay then they can't eat 5%. Most poor quality hays are 8% protein. Even poor hays will be able to maintain body condition on an adult animal throughout a winter season. JMO, Topside

myersfarm · #7 09/17/12, 06:20 PM

I would also suggest weighting a few bales if your going to cut it close.....people guess weights always heavy I was told bales I bought would be free if they did not weight 1100 pounds I said ok loaded up 8 on my dump bale trailer and weight them at the feed store...they weight 750 went back with the weight ticket..his bales still on my trailer.....thats when the funny part took place he said ....were you in the truck BOTH TIMES sure I am a heavy guy but 2800 pounds difference ... I just pulled over and dump MY FREE BALES BACK IN HIS STACK and canceled the 100 I was buying from him

topside1 · #8 09/17/12, 07:08 PM

If the animal is lactating or growing then that's a different story, they will need a ration supplyment. They still won't eat anymore hay, however a high energy, high protein ration should be used to replace some of the hay....Topside

FarmerDavid · #9 09/18/12, 09:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by myersfarm

I would also suggest weighting a few bales if your going to cut it close.....people guess weights always heavy I was told bales I bought would be free if they did not weight 1100 pounds I said ok loaded up 8 on my dump bale trailer and weight them at the feed store...they weight 750 went back with the weight ticket..his bales still on my trailer.....thats when the funny part took place he said ....were you in the truck BOTH TIMES sure I am a heavy guy but 2800 pounds difference ... I just pulled over and dump MY FREE BALES BACK IN HIS STACK and canceled the 100 I was buying from him

That's funny I don't know why he would say that anyway but good to hear you just dumped them. Hope you were able to find more after you canceled your order. Sad thing is he probably got more for them from someone less knowledgeable.

Jennifer L. · #10 09/18/12, 04:39 PM

3% for the cow, 10% of that for waste. So if you feed a 1000# cow 30 pounds of hay, figure 3 pounds of hay will get wasted (under their feet).