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Acres of grass hay per cow
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Case IH 9170
Posted 1/21/2018 19:09 (#6521776)
Subject: Acres of grass hay per cow


Southwest Illinois
Trying to figure how much grass hay acres to rent for 2018 as I have never did hay before so how many acres would sustain a herd of 22 cow-calf cows for the winter (october-April). All ready have 10 acres of alfalfa-grass planted so how many additional acres of grass will I need to rent-plant. Area is in Illinois with good soil
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NoTill1825
Posted 1/21/2018 20:45 (#6522094 - in reply to #6521776)
Subject: RE: Acres of grass hay per cow


NC Indiana
I’ve seen on here before to figure 1 round bale a month (assumes 30-35#/hd/ day from what I understand).
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Jim
Posted 1/21/2018 22:22 (#6522361 - in reply to #6521776)
Subject: RE: Acres of grass hay per cow


Driftless SW Wisconsin

If you've got 22 1300lb cows that's 28600 lb of cows.  If you use 30,000 lb of cows at 3% of their body weight per day, you will need 900 lb of hay per day. 3% is conservative which is a good thing to be when figuring hay needs. Allows for some waste on bale OD, bad weather etc.

Oct-Apr = 7 mo x 30 = 210 days.   210 days at 900 lb/day = 189,000 lb of hay or 95 tons.

You should allow 95 tons of hay per winter.  Depending on the size and density of the bales you make or buy, the number of bales required will change.  You are safer figuring hay by weight rather than bales unless you know the weight of your bales.  I've weighed 4x4 dry round bales around 750-800 lb and 5x6 dry round bales up to around 1600 lb.  Even in the same size bale, bale weight can vary widely.

Knowing the tons of dry hay you need, you can work out how many acres you need once you come up with a dry hay yield per acre for your area. The local extension office should be able to help you estimate a hay yield for your type of hay and location.

Good luck.



Edited by Jim 1/21/2018 22:31
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17821x
Posted 1/22/2018 06:16 (#6522540 - in reply to #6522361)
Subject: RE: Acres of grass hay per cow


NE Iowa
I agree with your math Jim on the tons needed. Now for hay yield it depends on how thick the alfalfa is and fertility. If you have a good stand of alfalfa, good fertility currently, and will topdress removal rates of P & K then you could get by with about 15 acres total of hay baled for the winter. If the stand of alfalfa is only 50% and you won't fertilize it then it may take around 22-25 acres to get the 95 tons.
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KDK Herefords
Posted 1/22/2018 10:19 (#6523028 - in reply to #6522540)
Subject: RE: Acres of grass hay per cow


East Central, IA
Also depends on if a cutting or two of hay gets 3.75 inches on rain on top of it while it is laying on the ground for 2 weeks...
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rkieffer
Posted 1/22/2018 15:58 (#6523792 - in reply to #6523028)
Subject: RE: Acres of grass hay per cow


Right
Some years 80 acres hay will feed em, some years it won't.
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