{"id":888,"date":"2012-01-04T14:06:31","date_gmt":"2012-01-04T19:06:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/livestock\/?page_id=888"},"modified":"2025-02-19T15:30:52","modified_gmt":"2025-02-19T20:30:52","slug":"enoughforage","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/livestock\/related-resources\/enoughforage\/","title":{"rendered":"Do You Have Enough Forage This Year?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"hay<\/a>Frequently we experience very challenging years in terms of hay harvesting and corn silage production.\u00a0 Not only are yields down but the quality of the forage is low for the most part.\u00a0 Many years livestock producers will ask, \u201cWill I have enough forage this year for my livestock?\u201d<\/p>\n

This page helps you find the answer to that question.<\/p>\n

First, you need to determine how much forage you will need this year.\u00a0 This depends on the type of livestock you keep, number of head, age, weight, level of production, etc. Then you need to determine how much forage you have on hand.\u00a0 You need to know the volume of your storage and the density of the forage.<\/p>\n

These tables detail forage needs on a hay equivalent basis of 88-90% dry matter; conversion to 35% dry matter silage can be done by multiplying the table contents by 2.6 (90% dry matter hay\/35% dry matter silage). Please note Table 1 details TONS of forage required per month and accounts for feeding losses in dry matter. Table 2 details POUNDS of hay per day\/month\/number of bales per month. An additional 5-15% loss in forage dry matter will occur during storage depending on forage management.<\/p>\n

Determine How Much You Need<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Table 1. Average Amount of Forage Needed Per Month for Dairy Cows
\n<\/strong>(Ave. 1,350 lbs.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u00a0<\/strong><\/td>\nLow Quality
\n<\/strong>0.47 \u2013 0.54 Mcal\/lb.<\/strong><\/td>\n		Medium Quality
\n<\/strong>0.55 \u2013 0.59 Mcal\/lb.<\/strong><\/td>\n		High Quality
\n<\/strong>Over 60 Mcal\/lb.<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u00a0<\/strong><\/td>\nForage Needed (Tons)<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Lbs. 3.5 Fat Corrected Milk<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
19,000<\/td>\n0.38<\/td>\n0.42<\/td>\n0.44<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
15,000<\/td>\n0.41<\/td>\n0.44<\/td>\n0.46<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
11,000<\/td>\n0.44<\/td>\n0.46<\/td>\n0.48<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Dry<\/td>\n0.39<\/td>\n0.39<\/td>\n0.39<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Heifers<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Birth \u2013 6 months<\/td>\n0.08<\/td>\n0.09<\/td>\n0.1<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
6 \u2013 14 months<\/td>\n0.19<\/td>\n0.21<\/td>\n0.22<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
14 \u2013 24 months<\/td>\n0.29<\/td>\n0.31<\/td>\n0.33<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Av.\/ Heifer \/ month<\/td>\n0.2<\/td>\n0.22<\/td>\n0.23<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Source: 1992 Interactive Television Dairy Nutrition Course Notebook, UMCE.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Table 2. Approximate Amount of Hay Needed <\/strong>By Animal Unit for all Other Livestock<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Animal Unit<\/strong><\/td>\nPounds of Hay per Day<\/strong><\/td>\nPounds of Hay per Month<\/strong><\/td>\nNo. of 40 pound bales per month<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1<\/td>\n20<\/td>\n600<\/td>\n15<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2<\/td>\n40<\/td>\n1200<\/td>\n30<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3<\/td>\n60<\/td>\n1800<\/td>\n45<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Table 3. Animal Units
\n<\/strong>It is assumed that one mature cow represents an animal unit or 1,000 pounds.\u00a0The comparative feed consumption of other age groups or species of animals determines the proportion of an animal unit that they represent.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Type of Livestock<\/strong><\/td>\nAnimal Unit<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Beef Cattle:<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Cow, with or without unweaned calf at side<\/td>\n1.0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Heifer, 2 years old or older<\/td>\n1.0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Bull, 2 years old or older<\/td>\n1.3<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Young Cattle, 1 to 2 years<\/td>\n0.8<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Weaned calves to yearling<\/td>\n0.6<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Horses:<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Draft Horse<\/td>\n1.7<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Light Horse, mature<\/td>\n1.3<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Light Horse, yearling<\/td>\n1.0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Weanling colt or filly<\/td>\n0.75<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Sheep:<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
5 Mature ewes, with or without lambs at side<\/td>\n1.0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
5 Rams, 2 years old or older<\/td>\n1.3<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
5 Yearlings<\/td>\n0.8<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
5 Weaned lambs or yearlings<\/td>\n0.6<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Source: Feeds and Nutrition, M.E. Ensminger, J.E. Oldfield, W.W. Heinemann, Ensminger Publishing Co., 1990.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Determine How Much You Have<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Table 4. Hay Shed Capacity
\n<\/strong>With 20\u2019 High Sidewalls<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Width, Feet<\/strong><\/td>\nBaled Hay (Tons\/Foot of Length)<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
24<\/td>\n2.0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
30<\/td>\n2.6<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
36<\/td>\n3.1<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
40<\/td>\n3.4<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
48<\/td>\n4.0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Density Values<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nCu. Ft.\/ Ton<\/strong><\/td>\nLbs.\/ Cu. Ft.<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Alfalfa<\/td>\n200 \u2013 330<\/td>\n6 \u2013 10<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Non-legume<\/td>\n250 –\u00a0 330<\/td>\n6 \u2013 8<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Straw<\/td>\n400 \u2013 500<\/td>\n4 \u2013 5<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Source: Dairy Housing Handbook, MWPS \u2013 7<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Table 5. Bunker Silo Capacities<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Average Width<\/strong><\/td>\nAverage Depth of Silage in Bunker<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
8 ft.<\/td>\n12 ft.<\/td>\n16 ft.<\/td>\n20 ft.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Tons Dry Matter per One Foot of Length<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
12 ft<\/td>\n0.53<\/td>\n0.78<\/td>\n1.1<\/td>\n1.3<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
15 ft<\/td>\n0.66<\/td>\n1.0<\/td>\n1.3<\/td>\n1.7<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
20 ft<\/td>\n0.90<\/td>\n1.3<\/td>\n1.8<\/td>\n2.2<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
30 ft<\/td>\n1.3<\/td>\n2.0<\/td>\n2.6<\/td>\n3.3<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
40 ft<\/td>\n1.8<\/td>\n2.6<\/td>\n3.5<\/td>\n4.4<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
50 ft<\/td>\n2.2<\/td>\n3.3<\/td>\n4.4<\/td>\n5.5<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Source: Managing Dairy Feed Inventory, University of Wisconsin, W. T. Howard, V. Wagner, and H. Larsen.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Table 6. Round Bale vs. Square Bale<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u00a0Size of Round Bale<\/strong><\/td>\nEquivalent Number of Square Bales<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
40 lb. Bale<\/strong><\/td>\n50 lb. Bale<\/strong><\/td>\n60 lb. Bale<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
4\u2019 Diameter (600 lb.)<\/td>\n15<\/td>\n12<\/td>\n10<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
5\u2019 Diameter (1,000 lb.)<\/td>\n25<\/td>\n20<\/td>\n16-2\/3<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
6\u2019 Diameter (1,400 lb.)<\/td>\n35<\/td>\n28<\/td>\n23 -1\/3<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Note: Losses due to weathering can vary from 11% to 44% for round bales left outside<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Table 7. Approximate Dry Matter Capacities of Tower Silos <\/strong>(Tons)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Silo Height (ft)<\/strong><\/td>\n\u00a0Silo Diameter (ft)<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n12<\/strong><\/td>\n16<\/strong><\/td>\n20<\/strong><\/td>\n24<\/strong><\/td>\n28<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
24<\/td>\n15<\/td>\n27<\/td>\n43<\/td>\n61<\/td>\n83<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
32<\/td>\n23<\/td>\n41<\/td>\n65<\/td>\n93<\/td>\n127<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
40<\/td>\n32<\/td>\n57<\/td>\n89<\/td>\n127<\/td>\n173<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
48<\/td>\n42<\/td>\n74<\/td>\n115<\/td>\n166<\/td>\n226<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
56<\/td>\n<\/td>\n93<\/td>\n144<\/td>\n207<\/td>\n282<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
64<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n174<\/td>\n250<\/td>\n340<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
72<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n293<\/td>\n400<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
80<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n334<\/td>\n455<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
*Capacities allow one-foot unused depth for settling in silo up to 30 ft high and one additional foot for every 10 ft beyond 30 ft height.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Source: ASAE (1985) as presented in, Silage and Hay Preservation, NRAES \u2013 5.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Plan for This Year: <\/strong><\/h3>\n