Winter feed expenses account for approximately one-third of the annual cost of production for a beef cow. Since hay makes up the largest portion of winter feed, minimizing feeding losses is the most efficient way to control feed costs.
Hay waste can be as high as 45% when unrolling bales on the ground to as low as 5% when utilizing a cone feeder with a solid panel along the bottom. When feeding a ground hay delivered into a bunk, feed waste is approximately 10%. Only feeding one day’s worth of hay at a time instead of multiple days can reduce feed waste up to 25%. Regardless of your hay delivery method, here are some tips to decrease hay waste.
Feeding hay stored inside has fewer storage losses compared to hay stored outside. Likewise, there is less feed waste with hay stored inside. This is the primary difference why cows will clean up small or large square bales better than a large round bale when fed daily.
Match bale diameter to feeder size. Much of the industry has focused on making bales larger for convenience of handling, hauling and storing, but larger bales may not be the best option for your hay ring or feeder. Smaller bales in larger feeders increase the likelihood of a cow keeping her head within the feeder while eating, therefore decreasing the amount of feed dropped on the ground outside the feeder. Utilizing a feeder with paneling and a closed bottom can also decrease waste by 20% compared to an open feeder.
Ensure adequate space for all females to consume hay. With limited space, cows are more likely to push and fight for feed, increasing feed pulled outside the feeder.
A cow can typically consume her daily feed intake within six hours, so shutting cows away from the bale ring and limiting access can reduce time spent around the hay ring and ultimate feed waste. This limited-access scenario also works well to implement the Konefal Calving Method of feeding females at night to increase the likelihood of them calving during the day. A common recommendation is 12 to 14 linear inches per cow in a self-feed scenario, whereas 30 or more linear inches are recommended in a limit-fed scenario.
Regardless of how hay is delivered, there will be feed waste. However, implementing some of these good management practices can minimize the risk of hay loss and decrease your winter feed bill.
