How much hay?

GoldenJoe · #1 07/27/13, 04:21 PM

We are thinking of getting two (2) springer (weaned), angus steer this fall and we are wondering how much hay to put up for the winter. They will have 5 acres of pasture as well, but we just hayed it so it won't be much to pick at until spring. We just don't want to sell of all our hay and not put up enough for the calves.

Thanks!

agmantoo · #2 07/27/13, 05:10 PM

2 weaned 550 lb steers will eat ~ 33 lbs of good hay per day initially. As they grow you will need to feed more. I have no idea of how many days you will need to feed hay. That will depend on your location.

I am not familiar with the term "springer" and "steer" being used together.

COWS · #3 07/27/13, 06:23 PM

When I was feeding square bales to cows over the winter, I figured on one bale for every three cows.

Don't know where you are. In the southeast five acres of good pasture with supplemental hay would be barely enough over a normal winter. Variables include weather over the winter and the quality of the hay.

COWS

topside1 · #4 07/27/13, 07:10 PM

Joe the term "springer" usually refers to a cow that is heavy bred....Topside

topside1 · #5 07/27/13, 07:13 PM

Post #2 is spot on, the amount Agman mentioned is what needs to end up in their gut. Also factor in waste, you must have a efficient feeding system....Topside

GoldenJoe · #6 07/27/13, 09:15 PM

We are in the pacific nw. We have fairly mild winters in our location with a lot of rain and it is possible that the pasture will come back a little before winter hits...it has in years past.

By springer, I just meant a young calf that we will raise through the spring next year...that is the term we had heard used....that is funny that it really means a heavy bred cow.

So our square bales are about 55# so for two calves it sounds like a bale and a little bit per day.....so 8-10 bales per week for a solid 4-5 months....so 200'ish bales.

We raised a highland momma, her calf (not weaned), and a steer one year and it seems that we only put up 2 ton of hay and had hay left over (we gave free choice hay and they preferred the pasture) so maybe our pasture winters over better than I am preparing for, but we would rather be over prepared as we can sell off any remaining hay in the spring. Our pasture is very lush in the spring and it will be nice to have cows on it this years vs. horses who can have way more sensitive bellies when it comes to spring grass.

Thanks everyone.

GoldenJoe · #7 07/27/13, 09:18 PM

Also....we plan to rope off part of the arena in the barn and leave the back door open so they can wander in/out at their pleasure and get out of the elements. As far as efficient feeding, when we raised the cows before we would feed hay in the barn. This time around, the arena is sand....is there any concern for cows eating off sand as there is with horses?

COWS · #8 07/28/13, 06:38 PM

I don't know of any reason to worry about cows eating off sand. They will trample uneaten hay and manure into the sand soon converting it to soil.

COWS