Summer keeps Wisconsin farmers busy. There are fences to fix, pastures to maintain, and field work to complete. But there may be another job worth adding to the list: planning for your winter feed.
It may seem early, but knowing how much forage you have as you head into the fall season, along with its nutritional quality, can help prevent costly shortages later. University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension experts share why now is the best time to plan. They also provide a tool to help you with the process.
Know your hay
Forage testing will give you a better picture of what your hay will provide and how it should be used in the ration.
Cows can consume more than 1.1% of their body weight in neutral detergent fiber (NDF), although that varies with fiber digestibility. Some hay may fill a cow’s stomach without meeting her nutritional needs, while higher-quality forage could provide more nutrients than she needs.
The bottom line? You can’t manage what you don’t know.
Account for feed loss
Calculating your winter feed needs goes beyond knowing a cow eats roughly 2% of her body weight in dry matter each day.
You’ll also want to consider the length of the feeding season, and losses during storage and feeding. Consider this example — you have a herd of 20 cows with an average weight of 1,200 pounds each. And you’ll be feeding them from October 1, 2026 through April 15, 2027. You will need roughly 64 tons of hay when storage and feeding losses are included in your calculations.
Planning for the herd and any changing needs
Nutritional needs increase as a cow moves further into pregnancy. Winter weather can also add to those demands.
Testing and a forage inventory now — will allow you to formulate rations later. This also gives you the opportunity to select hay that can meet those increased nutritional needs without unnecessary supplementation.
Having extra forage on hand can also provide a cushion if your supplies run short.
A little planning can save money later
Taking time for a hay inventory, along with accounting for potential losses, and testing your forage can help you move into the winter season with a better plan. You’ll also find you end up with fewer surprises.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension offers a Forage Inventory Tool. It can help you to easily calculate your supplies, and what your cattle will need during the months ahead.
Find and download the tool here.
Leave a Reply