How much hay does a cow need for a year, day and winter, methods of calculating the amount
Cattle productivity depends on the amount of feed received. The norms and types of products are different for each season. In summer, animals mainly feed on fresh vegetation. But in the cold season, the diet is revised. Farmers must provide an adequate supply of food. Therefore, it is important to correctly calculate how much hay a cow needs for the winter.
Calculating daily hay consumption
The average indicator, which is guided when harvesting hay, is about 3 kilograms per 1 centner of the weight of a cow. Not every farm, especially a small one, has the ability to determine the weight of the animal. Zootechnical formulas are used for calculations.
Trukhanovsky's formula
To calculate how many tons a livestock weighs, the owner needs to determine 2 indicators. Using a meter tape, measure the chest circumference of the animal (A). To find out the length of the body (B), one end of a straight stick is applied to the shoulder, the other to the pelvic bone. The cow or bull is fixed so that the legs are upright and the head is at the level of the back.
The resulting data is inserted into the formula:
| For the milk direction | For the meat direction |
| A * B / 100 * 2 | A * B / 100 * 2.5 |
The most accurate results are shown by measurements in the morning, even before the first feeding session.
Calculation by regression equations
For the second method, it is enough to determine only one indicator - A. The mass, depending on the width of the sternum, is determined by the formula:
| Girth, cm | Weight |
| Up to 180 | 5.3 * A - 507 |
| 180 to 190 | 5.3 * A - 486 |
| Over 190 | 5.3 * A - 465 |
The methods for determining the body weight of an animal give an error of about 20 kilograms. This must be taken into account when determining the amount of hay that the cow eats.
Hay consumption per head of cattle
Various factors affect the amount of feed:
- The more milk a cow gives, the more food she should receive.
- Depending on the weight, the diet varies within 10%.
The amount of dry food depends on the season. Vegetables, fresh grass or concentrates are added to food at different times. Accordingly, the rate of hay changes.
For a day
Knowing the weight of the animal, it is easy to determine that a cow weighing 5 quintals eats up to 20 kilograms of hay per day. During lactation, the main emphasis is on succulent feed, and the proportion of dry feed is reduced to a quarter of the total amount of food. During the period of termination of milk yield, the consumption of hay increases 2 times. Young animals and heifers eat from 8 to 12 kilograms of harvested grass per day. Meat production of cattle receives up to 30 kilograms.The proportion of dry feed in the ration of breeders varies from 10 to 15 kilograms per day per individual.
Newborn calves first taste such food at 3 months of age. The initial daily rate of young animals does not exceed 4 kilograms. Gradually, the indicator is brought to 10 kilograms.
For winter
The amount of hay that needs to be prepared for cold weather depends on the region. In the south of the country, cattle have the opportunity to feast on fresh grass for longer than the northern livestock. Dry grass in warm regions is not stored as much as in regions where frosts persist for a long time.
Farmers are advised to harvest more hay than expected. Late early spring, spoilage of part of the feed leads to a greater consumption of products. It is almost impossible to make up for the losses at the end of the season. Therefore, for the winter, they store not 3, but 4 tons of hay per 1 animal.
For a year
Hay is the main food product for animals. Less dry food is required in summer than in winter. The livestock has access to juicy and tasty grass in the pastures. A cow that produces up to 3 tons of milk per year has a 12% hay share in the diet. Taking all factors into account, for 365 days, cattle require at least 3.5 tons of dry grass. For breeds of meat direction, the rate is increased by almost 2 times and brought to 6 tons.
It is convenient to keep the cut vegetation in bales of 35 kilograms. Then there are 100 bales of hay per dairy cow and 150 bales of hay per beef cow.
The weight of grass in rolls depends on the size of this storage unit. The standard package holds up to 240 kilograms of dry food. For 1 animal, 15 or 25 rolls are prepared.
How often the cow is fed hay
The meal schedule for ruminants is important. Cows are advised to feed at least 3 times a day. Violation of the regime affects the state of the digestive tract and affects the volume of milk yield.
The following routine is considered generally accepted in animal husbandry:
- The first feeding takes place at 6 am.
- Daytime - at 13 o'clock.
- The final one is at 8 pm.
The main part of the daily rate is given by the livestock in the evening. This distribution is associated with the characteristics of the digestive system of cattle. Easy-to-digest food, which is ingested in the morning and at lunchtime, promotes the production of gastric juice. It is also important that the hay is absorbed for a long time. Therefore, the cow will not be hungry all night.
Grass suitable for making hay
Different types of plants are suitable for making hay. Traditional types of dry food:
- Clover, peas, or alfalfa form the basis of the legume variety. The high protein content contributes to rapid weight gain. But the amount of such food should not be excessive, so as not to provoke digestive problems.
- Cereals are less nutritious, but storing sweet clover or wheatgrass is much easier.
- The most versatile is hay collected from different herbs. Clover and alfalfa go well with timothy, and oats go well with vetch. These plants have all the benefits of other dry foods.
Cuttings are often left to dry in open areas under the influence of sunlight and wind. This method does not require additional costs. Correct calculations will help to create a balanced diet for livestock feeding. Cows need to get enough food throughout the year. The immunity and productivity of the livestock depend on this.
