Getting started.

[gcreekrch]

How many bales do you like to have to winter a cow?

4. Most years it works to 3 to 3.5. We feed to May 25 but can rustle into late December or even early January about half the time.

 

[chevytaHOE5674]

I need some more efficient cattle and a baler that makes some humongous bales holy smokes.

I plan for 10 bales per cow and usually it works out to around 8 bales.

 

[GoWyo]

Bale size is variable and relative. I buy hay by the ton, so I am interested in how many tons per cow it takes to get through winter and spring.

 

[chevytaHOE5674]

For 2025 my average bale weight was 1177.3lbs. So to cut my 10 bales down to 4 I would need to make just shy of 3000lb bales.

 

[Silver]

I need some more efficient cattle and a baler that makes some humongous bales holy smokes.

I plan for 10 bales per cow and usually it works out to around 8 bales.

Most of us up here make 5x6 bales. I suppose a better question would be how many tons to winter a cow.

 

[chevytaHOE5674]

What do your 5x6 bales weight?

 

[mwj]

The OP uses more than hay for his wintering ration. The cheapest ration varies greatly by location. Hay is a very general term.

 

[gcreekrch]

Our bales are 5x6 and will average 1600+ lbs

 

[gcreekrch]

The OP uses more than hay for his wintering ration. The cheapest ration varies greatly by location. Hay is a very general term.

Last winter we only fed pellets to one group of young cows and the calves. The rest only received hay

 

[chevytaHOE5674]

Our bales are 5x6 and will average 1600+ lbs

So 4 bales @1600lb is 6400lb of hay per cow.

I'm feeding 9000lb+ of hay per cow. I need to breed for more efficient cows. Ha

 

[daneg]

I expect to feed 7 1300lbs bales per cow 9100lbs.

 

[GoWyo]

We should get by on 120 bales for 70 head. Bales at 1350# so right around 1.16 tons per cow plus dormant pasture. Be mostly alfalfa-grass mix hay with straight alfalfa every couple of days. All hay is purchased. Winter feed should cost less than $200 per head.

 

[kenny thomas]

Unless we get a lot of snow i hope to feed 1-800 lb roll per cow this winter. Stockpile fescue is my feed

 

[Dave]

We feed 30 pounds of hay a day per head for about 150 days. That works out to 2.25 tons per cow for the winter. Feed some alfalfa about twice a week. Works out to approximately 180 lbs of grass hay and 30 lbs of alfalfa a week.

 

[chevytaHOE5674]

I figure on 45lb for 212 days. Most years it's less, but always have to be prepared for the worst.

 

[Silver]

I expect to feed 7 1300lbs bales per cow 9100lbs.

Pretty close to what we figure. But I like to have more, it gives me options.

 

[Silver]

I figure on 45lb for 212 days. Most years it's less, but always have to be prepared for the worst.

Very similar to here. I feel safer with 220 days. I like to have carryover.