Take Stock of Forage Before Winter

Now is a good time for cattle producers to evaluate forage supplies and develop a feeding plan for winter, according to North Dakota State University Extension specialists.

“Understanding how much forage is available, what it costs and how much may be lost during feeding can help producers manage one of the largest expenses in cattle operations,” says Vinicius de Souza Izquierdo, NDSU Extension beef cattle specialist.

The first step is to conduct an inventory of hay, silage and other feeds available for winter. James Rogers, NDSU Extension forage crops production specialist, recommends using a commercial scale to estimate bale weight by weighing several loads or multiple individual bales. Once the weight is known, determine the dry matter content because moisture affects weight but does not provide nutrients to the animal.

Dry matter can be determined using a Koster moisture tester, the microwave moisture testing method, any other electronic method or by submitting a sample to a commercial laboratory. If dry matter is unknown, an estimate of 85%-90% can be used for an initial hay inventory; however, laboratory analysis is recommended for ration balancing.

The second step is to estimate feed needs, according to Karl Hoppe, NDSU Extension livestock systems specialist. Intake varies depending on forage quality, animal size, production stage, weather and supplementation.

“For initial planning, an estimate of 2.5% of body weight can be used to determine forage dry matter intake per animal per day,” says Hoppe.

Having enough hay on paper does not mean all of it will be consumed. If forage is stored outside, dry matter losses could be as high as 20%, while losses may decrease to about 7% when stored inside.

Feeding losses also vary by feed quality and feeding system.

When hay is fed in bunks, waste may range from 3% to 14%, according to Rogers.

“If bales are rolled out on the ground, waste could reach 45%, particularly when cattle are provided multiple days of hay at one time,” says Rogers.

With free-choice access to large quantities of forage, intake also may increase beyond what is needed to meet requirements.

If conditions allow, daily feeding can help reduce waste. For example, if hay costs $100 per ton, reducing waste by 25% could save approximately $25 per ton. These savings may help offset the cost of investments in equipment such as feed bunks, bale processors or feed wagons.

Take Stock of Forage Before Winter

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