Hay & Feed Calculator

Estimate how much hay a herd eats each day and how many bales you need for a feeding period, with an allowance for feeding waste.

How it works

Livestock eat roughly a set share of their body weight in dry forage each day. Daily hay is that share times the animals' combined weight, and the season total is the daily amount times the number of days. A waste factor is added because animals trample, foul, and refuse some hay depending on how it is fed:

Daily hay (lb) = head × weight × (intake % ÷ 100)

The bale count divides the total (including waste) by the weight of one bale. Round bales and square bales vary widely in weight, so weigh a few of yours rather than guessing.

Reading the numbers

A daily intake near 2 to 2.5% of body weight on an as-fed basis is a common planning figure for mature cattle and horses on a hay diet, but real needs change with growth, pregnancy, lactation, cold weather, and hay quality. Feeding waste can range from just a few percent with a good feeder to a quarter or more when hay is rolled out on the ground. Use this estimate to plan purchases and stored inventory, then adjust with a nutritionist or your Cooperative Extension livestock agent for a balanced ration.

This tool is a planning aid and does the math from the numbers you enter. It is not a substitute for a soil test, seed-tag information, or advice from your local Cooperative Extension office. Page updated Aug 4, 2026.