Nutrition significantly affects your herd’s health during the cold winter months. Producers should plan ahead for their fall and winter forages to meet this need. There are many factors to consider when figuring out how much hay will be needed.
Primary inputs like grain, fertilizer, and even fuel can become terribly expensive. What’s even scarier is that these prices only appear to be going down for a while.
While looking at using a hay bale, many people tend to look at the upfront cost. While this may be good initially, it is not always best to be the only way. You will want to examine how much that particular will cost per unit of energy or protein.
Hay quantity factors
Length of season: This will vary depending on your geographic region. Northern parts of the country will have to feed longer than those in the southern. It may be tempting to graze them earlier or later in the year, but this could damage next year’s pasture production.
Temperatures: Animals living in areas with more extreme temperatures will need more calories to maintain their body condition. If this is your area, you must calculate your hay amount on the higher end of the scale.
Number and Weight of your animals: This may seem pretty basic, but it can be easily overlooked. Be sure to calculate any additional animals you will be buying or selling. Also, any births that may occur over winter should be included.
Stage of Cycle: This plays a factor because gestating and lactating animals will require more hay than those in the “dry” stage. Growing animals will need an increasing amount of hay as they develop.
Quality of hay: The quality of the hay you will feed also affects the amount you need on hand. Lower-quality hay will require more of it to meet the same nutritional output as the higher quality.
Factoring Total Amount
I have included a table to the left to give you a general idea of how much hay your cattle will consume. Although some factors may change this, it still can work as a general rule of thumb.
Once you have the numbers from the factors listed above, you are ready to figure out your total amount. The formula will be the amount required per day, X number of animals, and X total number of days. This formula will give you the number of pounds needed for winter. If you want it in total tonnage, divide it by 2,000, and this will provide you with the total Weight in tons that you will need.
In determining how much hay to use, it will be essential to consider the quality of the grass. Higher-quality forages have more significant concentrations of certain nutrients. This concentration means that animals eating it will more likely be able to meet their nutrient needs just from the forages. The drawback is that higher quality will increase intake. Consumption of low-quality forages will amount to 1.5% of body weight. In comparison, consumption of high-quality forages will amount to 2% of body weight.
You must know another number to determine how much hay you need. Any hay bale will not be 100% Dry Matter. Dry Matter is the amount of forage the animal can consume that will be of any benefit. To determine that amount, you must test the hay to see how much is dry.
Consider hay alternatives this winter.
As with most of the country, it can be very dry for an extended period of time. According to Texas AgriLife Extension, because of the drought and high fertilizer prices, this year’s hay season looks bleak. The quantity and quality can decrease while the overall cost can increase yearly. The difference can be harmful because hay will be needed more than ever, with forages not growing that well. Typically, beef producers depend on grass as the primary feed ingredient for their winter feeding programs. With this valuable ingredient, overall production can thrive.
Most producers will supplement using grains to fill in the gaps, but that can be challenging most years. Because of a lack of production and high fuel prices, the prices for many grains can skyrocket.
With hay and grains becoming increasingly expensive or scarce, it’s more important than ever to maximize the efficiency of your resources. Wastage is a luxury you can’t afford. Simple measures, such as ensuring every bit of hay is used, can lead to significant cost savings over time. If you’re looking for ways to reduce your overall feed costs, check out my previous post, “Some simple ways to reduce your feed costs.”
Have your winter hay tested.
For any cattle producer, ensuring proper nutrition for the herd is a top priority. Overfeeding or underfeeding essential nutrients can seriously affect animal health and productivity. One of the best ways to avoid these pitfalls is by testing hay for its nutritional content. Hay can vary significantly in moisture, protein, energy, and mineral levels, and testing allows you to know precisely what your cattle are eating, ensuring they get the right balance of nutrients.
Testing your hay allows you to make informed decisions about your feeding program. By understanding the nutritional value of your hay, you can balance your herd’s diet more accurately, ensuring they get the proper amounts of protein, energy, and minerals. This balancing can help avoid issues like poor weight gain, reproductive problems, or even toxicity from high nitrate levels in certain forages. Overall, hay testing gives you a clearer picture of what adjustments, if any, are needed to keep your cattle healthy and productive.
Analyze for moisture, protein, and energy.
When managing cattle nutrition, it’s essential to analyze feed for moisture, protein, and energy to meet the herd’s needs. In addition to these key factors, it’s also a good idea to test for critical minerals in the forages you’re feeding. The results from feed testing are usually presented in two forms: an “as-is” basis, which includes moisture, and a “dry-matter” basis, which shows the feed’s nutritional content without water.
When formulating rations or comparing different types of feed, it’s essential to use the dry-matter basis for the most accurate comparison. Since various feeds have different moisture levels, comparing them on a dry-matter basis helps you understand the actual nutrient content. This way, you’re not misled by water weight and can create a balanced diet that truly meets your cattle’s needs.
After calculating your ration on a dry-matter basis, you can convert it back to an as-is basis by factoring in the moisture content. This conversion tells you how much feed you must physically provide based on the feed’s water content. By understanding both dry-matter and as-is figures, you can ensure that your cattle receive the correct amount of nutrients while also accounting for feed moisture.
Analyze forages for nitrates.
When analyzing forage for your herd, it’s essential to look beyond moisture, protein, and energy content. You also need to check for nitrate levels for annual forages like oats, Sudan grass, and sorghum-Sudan hybrids. Nitrate buildup can be harmful, especially if these forages are harvested for hay and fed to livestock without proper testing.
These types of forages can accumulate high levels of nitrates under certain growing conditions, such as drought or excessive fertilization. If the nitrate levels become too high, toxicity in animals can be dangerous or even fatal. This risk is why it’s essential to be aware of the potential risks and take steps to prevent nitrate poisoning in your herd.
The only way to know if nitrate levels are high is to test the forage before feeding it to your livestock. Regular testing will help you catch any issues early and avoid health problems in your animals. By staying proactive and testing for nitrates, you can ensure your forages are safe and nutritious, protecting your herd’s health.
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