Hay question

[KentuckySpud]

How much hay roughly would it take to put a bred cow and heifer calf through the winter?

I'm new to cattle and was looking for advice.

 

[cowrancher75]

its something like 25-30 lb per 1,000 lbs

crappy stemmy hay they'll need a lot more of.. and grain

 

[snoopdog]

Depends on the winter, how big the calf is, how good the hay is, if they have anything else to eat, etc.

 

[circlebllc]

Mid Missouri, they figure 6 good round bales of hay, per adult animal. Good hay has a lot of meanings, 6 bales the same. Give or take. Then have extra for dry weather, early winter, late spring. Also depends on area and available forage. Clear as mud.

 

[KentuckySpud]

Calf is about 300 pounds born in March. Momma is about 800 pounds. We give them protein every night and their is a lot of grass

 

[5S Cattle]

Is the momma a heifer?

 

[cowrancher75]

just go by my figures and figure out when and how long you'll be feeding.

 

[KentuckySpud]

Is the momma a heifer?

No. Calf on her side is her first calf and she's pregnant and due in February

 

[Texasmark]

Is the momma a heifer?

I take it your meaning: Was the momma a heifer...first time calf?

Kentucky's comment: "Calf is about 300 pounds born in March. Momma is about 800 pounds. We give them protein every night and their is a lot of grass."

Then: "No. Calf on her side is her first calf and she's pregnant and due in February."

So now we are feeding 3 and momma is going to have 2 brats sucking on her.......Ky, better double the estimate for forage, especially if we have a hard winter....cold, wet, windy hard on them. Don't want to run out of feed in the winter. Worst time availability is usually weeds and at a premium price. Having leftover in the spring is not a reflection on your cattle raising expertise...quite the contrary.....good planning!

 

[KentuckySpud]

Is the momma a heifer?

I take it your meaning: Was the momma a heifer...first time calf?

Kentucky's comment: "Calf is about 300 pounds born in March. Momma is about 800 pounds. We give them protein every night and their is a lot of grass."

Then: "No. Calf on her side is her first calf and she's pregnant and due in February."

So now we are feeding 3 and momma is going to have 2 brats sucking on her.......Ky, better double the estimate for forage, especially if we have a hard winter....cold, wet, windy hard on them. Don't want to run out of feed in the winter. Worst time availability is usually weeds and at a premium price. Having leftover in the spring is not a reflection on your cattle raising expertise...quite the contrary.....good planning!

Thanks tex. We started on our shed today and plan to finish it in the coming days to get that hay a drive spot to sit.

 

[sstterry]

Are you feeding rolls or square bales?
If you need more room for hay storage, you can always put the rolls on pallets and cover them with a tarp.

 

[KentuckySpud]

Are you feeding rolls or square bales?
If you need more room for hay storage, you can always put the rolls on pallets and cover them with a tarp.

We have rounds rolls

 

[Rajela]

What size rounds 4x5, 4x6, 5x5 ????
4 rolls per head here if they are 4x5.

 

[Son of Butch]

How much hay roughly would it take to put a bred cow and heifer calf through the winter?
I'm new to cattle and was looking for advice.

6,000 lbs