how much hay does a beef cow eat per day

How Much Hay Should a Beef Cow Eat Per Day?

As a beef cattle farmer, determining the right amount of hay to feed your cows is an important task. Hay provides essential nutrients and roughage to keep cows healthy and productive. But how much hay should a beef cow eat in a day?

In this article, we’ll cover:

• Average daily hay intake for beef cows
• Factors that affect hay intake
• Using body weight to calculate intake
• Differences between forage types
• Importance of nutritional balance
• Tips for meeting daily requirements
• Monitoring your cows’ condition

Understanding the optimal daily hay intake for your herd takes a bit of calculation and observation. Let’s explore the details so you can provide the best diet for your cattle.

Average Hay Intake for Beef Cows

The average beef cow consumes about 2% of her body weight in dry hay per day. For the typical 1,200 lb beef cow, this equals 24 lbs of hay at 100% dry matter.

However, hay bales contain some moisture, usually 7-10%. So if your hay contains 10% moisture, the cow would need about 26 lbs of that hay to equate 24 lbs of dry matter.

Younger, growing cattle require more hay per pound of body weight – up to 3% daily for youngstock. Mature bulls also eat more, around 2.5% of body weight.

For most beef cattle herds, estimating an average intake of 2% serves as a useful starting point. But several factors can affect true hay needs

Factors That Impact Hay Intake

While the thumb rule of 2% body weight covers hay needs for maintenance, a few key factors influence actual intake:

• Growth stage – Young, growing cattle need more hay per pound of body weight than mature cows. Lactating cows also have increased needs.

• Body condition – Thin cattle will eat more hay to compensate for weight loss. Cows in good condition eat less.

• Forage quality – Higher nutrient hays, like alfalfa, may be consumed in lower amounts. Poor quality roughage is eaten in higher quantities.

• Cold weather – Cattle will eat considerably more hay to generate body heat when temperatures drop below freezing.

• Availability – Cattle with unlimited access to hay will likely overconsume. Portioning hay keeps intake controlled.

• Compensating for poor pasture – Inadequate grazing or snow-covered pasture means more hay to offset the difference.

Because of these factors, base daily hay allotments on cattle condition, weather, forage tests, and pasture quality. The 2% guideline provides a starting point, but adjust as needed.

Using Body Weight to Calculate Intake

You can use the average body weight of your herd to calculate expected hay consumption.

For example, a 1,400 lb beef cow that weighs 20% more than the average 1,200 lb cow will eat 20% more hay. So at 2% of body weight, her expected intake is:

1,400 lb cow x 0.02 = 28 lbs of hay daily (at 100% dry matter)

Make sure you have an accurate weight for each animal, either through scales or a weight tape. Group cattle by age and weight as needed to determine hay allotments. Monitor body condition and raises or lower amounts accordingly.

Understanding intake differences between cow sizes and ages helps with planning. You can fine-tune the 2% baseline as needed for different classes of cattle in your herd.

Impact of Forage Type on Consumption

Not all hays are equal when it comes to consumption. The type of hay you feed – grass, alfalfa, mixed, etc. – impacts how much cattle will eat.

Grass hays are lower in protein and energy than legume hays like alfalfa. So cows will consume more grass hay to meet their nutritional needs. Aim for about 2.5% of body weight for average-quality grass hay.

With higher protein hays like alfalfa, cattle only need about 1.5% of body weight to fulfill requirements. The better the quality, the less they need to consume.

Any hay that is overly coarse, stemmy or moldy will be avoided and lead to increased consumption. Always assess hay quality through visual inspection and forage testing. This allows realistic estimates of intake.

Understanding nutritional differences between forage types is key for accurate ration planning. Use forage tests to dial-in the percentages and provide a balanced diet.

Importance of a Balanced Diet

When calculating hay needs, it’s essential to also consider the entire dietary ration. The goal is to provide a nutritionally balanced diet through forages, supplements and other feeds.

The bulk of a beef cow’s nutrition should come from roughages like hay and pasture grazing. Grains or concentrate feeds should only make up 0.5-1% of the total ration.

Too much grain can cause acidosis and other metabolic issues. But insufficient energy and protein can also create problems.

Using your hay as the base, factor in pasture quality, mineral supplements, and small amounts of grain to meet targets for total digestible nutrients (TDN), protein, fiber and other nutrients.

Work with a cattle nutritionist or extension agent to formulate balanced rations tailored to your operation. This ensures your cows get what they need without overfeeding.

Tips for Meeting Daily Hay Requirements

Here are some tips for making sure your cows get adequate hay each day:

• Space hay rings widely to minimize bullying and overconsumption by dominant cows.

• Portion hay into multiple feedings rather than offering it all at once to encourage even intake through the day.

• Make sure hay is stored properly to avoid mold, nutrient loss, and waste.

• Test your hay to account for nutritional differences between cuttings, seasons, and years.

• Assess pasture quality and supplement with hay as needed during dry periods or dormancy.

• Separate first-calf heifers, older cows, and bulls into groups with tailored rations.

• Adjust allotments incrementally and monitor body condition until intake targets are met.

With some calculating, forage testing, and fine-tuning, you’ll get a good handle on proper hay rations. Your cows will be satisfied and healthy.

Monitoring Beef Cow Body Condition

The best way to determine if your cows are getting adequate hay is to monitor body condition on a regular basis.

Ideally, beef cows should achieve a body condition score of 5-6 on a 9 point scale at calving. First-calf heifers may need a condition score of 6 to successfully rebreed after calving.

Cows that drop below a score of 4 are too thin, while those over 7 are overly fat. Assess condition monthly and adjust hay rations up or down as needed.

Target an upward trend in condition during mid-gestation, peak lactation demands around breeding, and slight declines in late gestation as nutrient needs shift.

Body condition scoring takes practice but is a valuable skill. Having real-time data on your cows’ condition means you can fine-tune forage allotments to hit nutritional targets.

The Takeaway on Hay Intake

On average, a beef cow will consume 2% of her body weight in dry hay each day to meet maintenance needs. This equates to around 24 lbs for a 1,200 lb cow.

However, forage type, cattle classes, growth stages, weather, pasture quality and body condition all impact true intake needs and must be factored in.

Monitor your cows’ condition monthly and make incremental ration adjustments until intake and growth targets are met. Balanced nutrition through hay, pasture, supplements and grains ensures optimal animal health and productivity.

With some calculating, forage testing, ration balancing and body scoring, you’ll get a good handle on the right hay amounts for your beef herd. Your cows will thank you!