The Effect of Hay Quality on Supplemental Feed Costs

Hay quality greatly affects the amount of supplemental feed required for beef cattle. Tables 6 and 7 in B-1526, "Body Condition, Nutrition and Reproduction in Beef Cows," show the reduction or elimination of cottonseed meal and corn supplement needed for beef cows in various body conditions and stages of production.

A cost per head per day can be calculated using the amounts of corn and cottonseed meal required for supplementation. These costs are shown in Table 1 that follows.

Table 1. Cost of Supplemental Feed When Using Hays of Various Quality

* Based on price of corn @ 10/cwt and cottonseed meal @ $250/ton.

** Hay Quality - Poor - 4% protein, 42% -TDN

Average - 7.5% protein, 47% TDN

Excellent - 13% protein, 52% TDN

These costs can be further calculated for 100 beef cows over a 100 day feeding period as given in Table 2. Increasing hay quality from 4 to 7.5 percent protein (poor to average) would save from $1,875 for dry cows in body condition score 7 to $3,875 for dry cows in body condition score 3. The same increase in hay quality fed to lactating cows would save from $2950 to $4,875.

Table 2. Supplementation Cost for a 100 Cow Herd Over a 100 Day Feeding Period.