Calculating Winter Hay Supply

Weekly News Article for The News-Democrat, Carrollton, KY

(Photo by Stephen Patton, University of Kentucky)

October is an important time for livestock producers to assess their winter hay supplies.  With the majority of this year's hay made, now is the time to determine whether you have enough to get your animals through the winter.

Determining this amount is a rather straightforward task.  Here is how to get a fairly accurate estimate:

1. Estimate the number of days you will feed hay this winter.  In a normal year, Kentucky producers average 120 days (from December 1 to March 31) of feeding hay.  This will vary depending upon your situation.
2. Determine the amount of feed your animals will consume each day.  Cattle and horses consume an average of 2.5 percent of their body weight every day.  To determine this amount, multiply the average animal's weight times 0.025 (2.5 percent).  Multiply that answer by the number of animals you plan to feed.
3. Multiply the products of #1 and #2 together.  This will give you a good idea of the approximate pounds of hay you will need for the winter.
4. Take three or four hay bales to a facility with a scale, such as the local feed store, if possible.  Take the bales' average weight and multiply that by the number of bales you have.  Compare this number to the amount you need.
5. You also need to allow for storage and feeding loss, and adjust your hay supplies to cover these losses.  If you store your hay outside, your losses may be more than 50 percent.  A 50 percent loss would mean that you need to double the amount of hay you calculated, in order to feed your animals.