Similar calculations can be used with other types of hay feeders. This gives every cow in the herd an opportunity to get the hay she needs, in addition to cutting labor costs.

But a better alternative would be to use three hay rings that are filled every three days. To feed a 30-cow herd, we could use one hay ring that is filled daily. To make the most efficient use of hay rings, you may need to purchase several rings and feed more bales at one time.Īs an example, a 30-cow herd would consume one 900-pound round bale per day. Cows that are more timid will be forced to eat the lower-quality material or go hungry. The more aggressive cows will eat first and consume the more desirable hay. Hayracks with solid barriers at the bottom prevent livestock from pulling hay loose with their feet and dragging it out to be stepped on. Most hay rings have enough space for approximately 10 cows at a time. When hay rings are used, you need to consider the space available around the feeder. Feeding hay in racks or rings is crucial for producers who do not or cannot feed hay to their cattle on a daily basis. This system requires an initial investment in hayracks or rings, but feeding losses are lower. Large round bales with ring: A better system for feeding large round bales is to set the bale in the pasture or feeding area but limit access to the hay with a rack or hay ring. Even then, feeding losses can be excessive. Large round bales with no ring: When feeding large round bales without a ring or rack, a good way to estimate how many bales to have available each day is to figure one cow per foot of outside diameter of the bale. Animals fed high-quality hay early in the season will often refuse poor-quality hay when it is offered later. Cattle will waste a greater percentage of poor-quality hay than they will of good-quality hay. Hay stored outside usually has more spoilage during storage and lower palatability than hay stored inside. It is important to remember that outside storage of large bales will increase hay losses due to weather-related spoilage. Feed hay stored outside before hay stored inside. Large bale systems are designed to minimize labor, not waste.Feed hay in well-drained areas. If you intend to feed hay in a single location all winter, providing a footing such as crushed gravel or even concrete can help minimize problems with mud.Feeding hay in a rack or a “hay ring” limits the opportunity that animals have to trample or soil hay if you intend to provide more than a day’s worth of hay at one time. Feed hay in small amounts or in a feeder to minimize waste.

Below are some general rules that can help minimize waste during feeding. No matter how hay is packaged, if you waste it, you lose money.

Hay round bale feeder