by Chris Hicks, Smith County Extension Agent
Due to a very dry August and September there has been a substantial amount of hay already fed in this area. Cool-season pastures that might normally have been grazed or stockpiled for grazing later were basically dormant as temperatures stayed in the nineties well into fall.
What this early hay feeding means is that hay supplies that seemed plentiful early this year might be depleted sooner than we thought. Making sure that hay doesn’t go wasted needs to be a priority.
Believe it or not, cattle do not have to have 24-hour access to hay. University research has shown that cows can consume most of their hay intake during the first few hours of access to the hay. That means the rest of the day they are probably making more of a mess and wasting hay than they are consuming it.
Limiting access to hay to 6-8 hours per day is one way to avoid waste. Of course, this is assuming the hay is high enough quality to meet the animal’s nutritional requirements.
Along with the amount of access, also consider what type of hay feeder, if any, you are using. A bale of hay set out in a pasture will be largely wasted as animals use it for a bed or a bathroom.
Remember that not all hay feeders are created equal when it comes to hay waste. Trailer and cradle type feeders usually average 10-15% waste, while standard hay rings with sheet metal on the bottom average about 6%. Cone feeders, which are heavier and more expensive, keep hay up off the ground while the animals eat and have the least amount of waste at around 3%.
Moving hay rings around or feeding on a concrete or rock pad that can be scraped regularly will not only help with waste, but cattle health as well.
Several producers like to unroll hay which gives them the advantage of distributing nutrients around the farm and allowing “boss” cows and young calves to eat together. If you are concerned about having enough hay to get through the winter though, this option may not be for you as even unrolling hay every day will see about 12% waste. Unroll enough for several days and you’ll see waste as high as 50%.
Grinding or processing hay is another way to decrease waste and increase consumption. While not practical for every producer, those with access to a bale processor or TMR mixer can use this method effectively.
The take-home message here is to be intentional with whatever hay feeding strategy you choose, and try to implement systems that will stretch your hay supply through the winter. Better to think about these things now than to be shopping for hay in February.
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