Your Animals
Animal Type
Count
Avg Weight
Your Winter Hay Estimate
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Total Bales Needed
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Estimated Cost
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Storage Sq Ft (1 layer)
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Total Lbs / Day
| Animal | Count | Lbs/Day Each | Total Lbs/Day | Bales Needed |
|---|
Estimates include selected buffer and feeder waste. Actual needs vary by animal condition, hay quality, and weather severity. Always store 10–15% more than calculated.
How to Use This Calculator
- Add each animal type separately — a herd of horses and goats goes in as two separate rows.
- Enter your animal count and their approximate average weight per animal.
- Set your bale weight — if you don't know the exact weight, ask your hay supplier or weigh one bale on a livestock scale. The difference between a 800-lb and 1,100-lb bale is significant in your total count.
- Choose your feeder waste level honestly. If you're feeding round bales on the ground with no ring, select 40%. If you use a good hay ring or manger, 12% is a reasonable estimate.
- Add a buffer. Ten percent is a reasonable minimum — cold snaps increase consumption, hay quality may be lower than expected, and running out of hay in February is a serious problem.
Don't know how long until spring pasture? Count the months from when you'll be fully dependent on hay (typically when grass stops growing — late October in Zone 6, mid-November in Zone 7) to when your animals can reasonably substitute pasture for a significant portion of their hay intake (typically April in Zone 6). For most of the US Midwest and mid-Atlantic, 5–6 months is a reasonable planning window.
What the Calculator Accounts For
Daily Consumption Estimates Used
| Animal | Daily Consumption (% body weight) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Horse | 2.0% | Average adult at maintenance |
| Pony / Mini Horse | 1.8% | Often easy keepers — adjust if over-conditioned |
| Beef Cow | 2.2% | Dry cow at maintenance |
| Beef Cow (late gestation) | 2.5% | Last 90 days of pregnancy |
| Goat | 3.0% | Hay-only feeding; dry doe |
| Sheep | 2.8% | Ewe at maintenance |
| Llama / Alpaca | 1.8% | Similar to pony |
What the Calculator Does NOT Account For
- Grain or supplement feeding that offsets hay consumption
- Partial pasture access in early winter or early spring
- Hay quality differences (lower quality hay requires more per day)
- Animals with special needs (sick, underweight, extremely cold climate)
For mixed operations or animals with specific nutritional needs, add 15–20% to the calculated total or consult your veterinarian or extension agent.
Disclaimer: This calculator provides estimates for planning purposes only. Actual consumption varies by animal size, health, hay quality, and environmental conditions. Always consult your veterinarian or local cooperative extension service for herd-specific feeding guidance.