Hay needed for winter in Central Illinois

[brian789]

I am just getting into the livestock business on my own after years of being a farm hand for a neighbor. I am looking to buy 8-10 cows (1200 lbs avg). We live in Dekalb, Illinois (central/northern illinois) so the winter can be a little harsh at times. How many of the small square bales will I need to get me through the winter? I am figuring on feeding from November - March (5-6 months most likely).

 

[boondocks]

:welcome:
Hi Brian,
I'm a newbie too (3 yrs in) but have spent some time in IL. I know there are some other, more experienced posters here who will weigh in, but I'll start by saying: are you sure you'll only need hay thru the end of March? If we have another winter like this past one, I'd bet that may be a few weeks' on the optimistic side?

Best of luck!

 

[Nesikep]

I'll give you an idea of what I feed, I have 20 cows and a bull, give or take a couple... I usually start feeding mid december and feed them about 7 bales of first cut grass/alfalfa (70-80 lb/bale) until Feb, at which point I will often take out the upcoming first calvers, and any thin second calvers out and feed them seperately, I probably give them an additional bale a day until march, at which point I start calving. I usually increase their feed about 40% after calving (pour the coal to them), and though I could let them on pasture earlier, it works well for me to feed them until May 25th, at which point they go out with the bull. I should say most of my cows are in the 1500 lb range too..

So I go through about 1000 bales to get me up to calving, and about 1000 from calving-pasture, for double the number of (bigger) cows. I think about 1000 bales would be a good start, I don't think you'd be drastically off either way.

I used to work at the Nestle plant in Dekalb.. I think it's run by Alliance packaging?... I was there for a while installing packaging equipment... I got to sample lots of free junk food :)

Welcome to the boards :)

 

[brian789]

Boondoks and Nesikep thanks for the input! Gives me a bit more confidence that I could make it though the winter. It just seems everyone you talk to you get a different answer from, some farmers say a square bale a day per cow in the winter here, others say not as much. So I am looking forward to getting all the input I can from everyone out there. Seems like a great board and I am looking forward to being a regular around here. Very insightful group.

 

[slick4591]

:welcome:

 

[boondocks]

Boondoks and Nesikep thanks for the input! Gives me a bit more confidence that I could make it though the winter. It just seems everyone you talk to you get a different answer from, some farmers say a square bale a day per cow in the winter here, others say not as much. So I am looking forward to getting all the input I can from everyone out there. Seems like a great board and I am looking forward to being a regular around here. Very insightful group.

Brian, what we've done as newbies is to lay in what we think we'll need, but identify ahead of time where we would get any extra needed if we start to run short toward the end of winter. With the harsh winter this year we did run short but a couple of guys we'd identified ahead of time as back-up had plenty left to sell us. (If temps are very low, or it's wet, cows need a lot more to keep their body temp up. There's an interesting article from U Tenn here: http://animalscience.ag.utk.edu/beef/pd ... er.262.pdf

 

[Workinonit Farm]

Figure, on average, a minimum of 25 to 30 lbs of hay per head per day. Often times that could mean a 1/2 bale per. Other variables------will they still have "grazing" to browse (of course if there's no snow)? Will they be pregnant through the winter or will they be wet (meaning will they have a calf that they are feeding).

Colder weather, nursing calves, they'll need more.

I hope this helps.

Katherine

 

[Rahe Family Belties]

I would plan on 6 bales a day if you have 10 cows. (assuming good quality grass/legume hay)
That will be about 1000 bales for the winter.
At about $7-9/bale in your neighborhood it will be pretty cashy to feed them this winter.

Have you considered round bales? Cost to feed will will be about half or less.

I am square baling my alfalfa here in Western IL for $6-7/bale and buying 2000 pound grass/clover round bales for $40-45. My local guy even delivers free of charge!

I am 45 miles west of Springfield and he is selling rounds now for $45/.

 

[Bez__]

I am just getting into the livestock business on my own after years of being a farm hand for a neighbor. I am looking to buy 8-10 cows (1200 lbs avg). We live in Dekalb, Illinois (central/northern illinois) so the winter can be a little harsh at times. How many of the small square bales will I need to get me through the winter? I am figuring on feeding from November - March (5-6 months most likely).

Northern Illinois?

Can be tough for snow there - similar weather to me - and that is the important factor - plus the mud!

Some folks might say I am high in my numbers - but you can feed out hay that is a couple of years old - you cannot feed it if you do not have it.

So ....

If you are lucky you will get by with about 8-10 x 5 foot round bales per cow - plus some additional bales to supplement your lack of pasture should there be a dry fall or a delayed spring. (Plan on this happening!) I know it is not small squares but they are so varied in weight that you can never be sure what to feed until you actually see what they eat. I know some will figure I am high in my numbers but this is planned to have a few stock piled for those crap droughted out fall pastures, lousy wet winters and a slow pasture come on in the Spring.

And we all know it can happen. LOL

Pasture will be your issue - if it is used up before the planned feeding time you feed - if it comes on slow in the Spring or is delayed you are screwed if you do not have hay in situ.

Then hay becomes your new issue. Just because you plan does not mean it will happen. You are also a grass farmer - pastures fall apart quickly if not maintained. Generally - not always - but generally by over grazing - helped along by lack of rain and fertilizer.

You can always have a few extra bales around to feed - but they go hungry if you do not.

You get a wild winter hay consumption can get up to 50 pounds a day. You get a mild one it can go as low as 20 - 30 pounds a day. My crystal ball does not allow me an accurate predition so I always have extra on hand.

Also - plan on the cattle eating more than some of the suggested weights. Wet and wind and cold plus mud will put you in a higher feed volume bracket than you might think. Especially if you get a few early calves - the consumption jumps big time as they eat to milk.

Buying hay is not cheap - use your dollars wisely - you might truck in from north of the border where your dollar goes farther due to exchange should you not be able to get local hay

No matter how much you need or you think you need, the time to scramble for hay is now - not next February - that is when it will be the most expensive.

So - no matter the suggested number of bales - buy by WEIGHT if you can. Buying small squares will kill you if you are in it to make money - if you do not give a dam(n) then ignore all of the above and pay as you go.

And add a minimum of 10% for contingencies.

And - a big one - do not buy crap. if the seller is in the game they should have the hay tested and the results available - if they do not then test it yourself before you buy - I always have results ready for those who buy from me and I always test the hay before buying - it truly DOES make a difference.

If you are serious about getting into the game you will be serious about the hay quality. The good stuff means no grain purchases and that can be a big savings - there is more to hay than buying grass. We do not supplement our cattle or sheep in any manner other than mineral - it is a big savings.

You are about to spend a tonne of money - protect that investment.

Talk to your neighbours - ask what s/he does - that will be your 100% best solution - the ones that are in the business - even if you need to interpret their answer a bit - they really are your best resource.

In closing - I see pics here all the time of thin cattle - ribs and hips sticking out like dairy cattle. It chaps my azz but I generally do not comment - so feed them. They eat BEFORE you do.

Wish you all the best in this game.

Best to you

Bez__

PS - one additional item - if you are feeding squares because of no equipment it might be cheaper to go big round bales and pay a neighbour to come and feed for you once a week. You could literally save a few thousand bucks by avoiding the small square bale scenario.

Just a thought

B

 

[Rniemann]

Do whatever you can to avoid feeding squares!