BROOKINGS, S.D. -- A cooler-than-average growing season should be on forage producers' minds as they calculate the 2014 feedstuff inventory, reviewing quality and quantity.
"Hay inventories for the upcoming winter feeding could fall a bit short in some areas across the state, while other areas have an abundant quantity, but may not have the quality," says Karla Hernandez, South Dakota State University Extension forages field specialist. "Evaluating the hay feeding system before winter begins will help minimize feeding losses and reduce number of bales of hay needed."
Hernandez says as these issues factor into planning options, several questions come to mind including:
• What management decisions need to be made to best utilize available feed resources?
• How much needs to be purchased now and what might be available later in the season?
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• Do we have enough stored feed supplies to make it through winter, especially if it is colder than normal?
She adds that a simple cattle and feed inventory is valuable when planning this fall and winter's livestock feeding program. Items Hernandez says should be considered include:
• Estimate total feed needs for the herd size.
• Determine available feed supply, type and quantity.
• Determine how to adjust for excesses or deficiencies, based on prices.
In order to get a rough estimate of cow hay needs, Hernandez says forage growers need to calculate 3 percent of the average weight of cows.
"This is an approximate amount of feed per cow per day," she says. "Take this figure, multiplied by the number of head and number of days on feed, to determine the total need."
She adds that waste needs to be calculated in, "because no matter what type of processing, there will be some loss. For hay, this should be calculated at 10 to 20 percent," she says.
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Quality
Forage quality is an important aspect to consider in determining the needed hay supply.
"This is the main reason to test hay before feeding it to livestock. In general terms, feeding livestock with good-quality hay will increase production and animal performance," Hernandez says.
She explains that cheaper hay, with low forage quality, is generally more mature and provides a lower nutrient dense feed than expensive hay that is higher quality.
But she says it might be more cost effective to utilize the cheaper, low-quality forage and a protein supplement than to purchase expensive hay.
"The question becomes what resources are available on the operation and how can they be utilized, versus what needs to be purchased," Hernandez says.
For feedstuff inventory, Hernandez says it is important to consider hay storage and feeding methods.
"Most of the hay losses will occur when the hay is left outside without protection."
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So, growers who store hay in a barn or under tarps will save around 20 percent more than hay stored outside. She adds that wet and cool temperatures could also affect the quality and quantity of corn silage.
