Feeding hay correctly isn't complicated — but it does require knowing a few numbers and watching your animals closely. This guide is the central reference for daily hay requirements across all common farm species, with links to the deeper animal-specific guides for each.
Universal Daily Hay Requirements
| Animal | Daily Forage Need | Hay Only (no pasture) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Horse | 1.5–2% body weight | Full 2% | Never restrict below 1% — colic/ulcer risk |
| Pony / Mini Horse | 1–1.5% body weight | Lower end; easy keepers | Monitor closely for obesity |
| Beef Cow (dry) | 2–2.2% body weight | Full range | Cheapest hay is fine for dry cows |
| Beef Cow (late gestation) | 2.5% body weight | Full + protein supplement | Increase quality in last 60 days |
| Dairy Cow (milking) | 2.5–3%+ body weight | High quality + grain needed | Hay alone rarely sufficient for peak production |
| Goat (dry doe) | 2.5–3% body weight | 3–5 lbs/day typical | Feeder type critical to reduce waste |
| Goat (lactating) | 3.5–4% body weight | Free choice | Alfalfa or mixed hay preferred |
| Sheep (dry ewe) | 2.5–3% body weight | 3–5 lbs/day typical | Grass hay adequate at maintenance |
| Sheep (nursing twins) | 3.5–4% body weight | Free choice quality hay | Highest demand period |
| Llama / Alpaca | 1.5–2% body weight | 2–4 lbs/day typical | Grass hay only; avoid alfalfa |
| Rabbit | Unlimited | Always available | No maximum — hay should never run out |
The Single Most Impactful Practice: Weigh Your Hay
The biggest disconnect between knowing the right amount and actually feeding it is that most farmers estimate by flakes or bites rather than weight. A flake from a compressed square bale weighs 4–5 lbs. A flake from a loosely packed bale of the same size can weigh 7–9 lbs. Visually, they look similar. The difference over a year of feeding is significant.
Buy a hanging scale (under $20 at farm supply stores) and weigh your hay for two weeks until you have a calibrated sense of what "enough" looks like in your operation. Then spot-check monthly. This single step resolves more feeding issues than any other intervention on small farms.
Feeding Schedule Best Practices
Horses
Minimum twice daily; ideally three times or free-choice. Never leave a horse without hay for more than 4–6 hours. If using round bale feeders, check that hay is accessible at all times. The risk of gastric ulcers increases sharply when horses go more than 6 hours without forage.
Cattle
Once or twice daily is typical for cattle with round bale feeders. Cattle can handle longer gaps between feedings than horses — their rumen buffers the digestive system through periods without feed. Filling the ring feeder fully rather than partially reduces the frequency of refilling without causing overconsumption.
Goats and Sheep
Twice daily is standard. For goats, consistent feeding times reduce competition stress and decrease the likelihood that dominant animals eat disproportionately. Ensure all animals reach the feeder simultaneously — staggered access leads to subordinate animals getting the leavings.
Reducing Hay Waste: The Financial Case
At $80–$120 per round bale, waste is directly measurable in dollars. A table of typical waste rates and what they mean at different herd sizes:
| Waste % | What Causes It | Cost Per 10 Bales | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5–8% | Good ring/net feeder | $40–$96 wasted | Maintain current setup |
| 12–18% | Standard ring feeder | $96–$216 wasted | Upgrade to slow-feed or covered feeder |
| 25–35% | No feeder / bare ground | $200–$420 wasted | Any ring feeder will pay for itself quickly |
| 35–50% | Goats + wrong feeder type | $280–$600 wasted | Switch to keyhole or goat manger |
Common Feeding Mistakes
- Feeding by eye instead of weight. Flake sizes vary; weight is the only reliable measure.
- Same hay for all animals regardless of production stage. A dry cow and a late-gestation cow have very different needs. Treating them the same wastes money on one and underfeeds the other.
- Letting hay quality degrade in storage and feeding it anyway. Moldy hay is worse than less hay — it can cause serious health problems. Discard rather than feed.
- Running out of hay in late winter. The most expensive hay is always emergency hay purchased in February. Buy your full winter supply in summer and add a 15% buffer.
- Not adjusting for weather. Animals in severe cold eat significantly more. Add a 10–15% cold-weather buffer to your feeding estimates when temperatures drop below 20°F for extended periods.