Amount of hay needed for 3 momma cows

How many small squares of grass and clover mix hay would be needed to overwinter 3 momma cows in Southern Illinois? I ask because I am thinking of getting a couple come this fall when people are unloading them before they need to be fed hay. I have too much hay to handle and will turn one patch into a Pasture for them.

The total amount will depend on the weather and the quality of the hay but when I used to use small square bales I figured 1/2 bale for a mature cow per day. IF you supplement the hay with some ground feed then figure 1/3 bale per head per day.

I would use a hay feeder with a rack and bottom in it. That way any hay not eat today will be there for tomorrow. Plus the type I pictured allows you to feed ground feed in the bottom and small squares in the top. The one in the picture is metal but I have made many of them out of wood. I like this style for a few head.

20-30 lbs. per day of good quality clover grass hay should do it depending on the size of the cows,
free choice mineral and salt. When straight feeding high quality hay to brood cows it is advisable
to set out a round bale of corn stalks or coarser quality grass hay for the cows to fill up on when
the days are real cold.

Bkpigs,

I live a bit farther south than you do, but here in southern Middle Tennessee, during the months when the pastures have stopped producing, I feed my adult black Angus cows:

1. 1/2 bale of mixed grass hay (about 25 pounds)

2. 5 lbs. of 12% cattle feed from the Co-Op

3. Free choice pasture minerals

4. Clean, fresh water

Typically, I feed this once a day for 120 - 140 days.

I have lots of woods on my farm, so the cows bed down in the woods at night for protection from the weather.

Good luck with your herd.

Tom in TN

As JD seller said, a big factor is how much of it is eaten vs. wasted. I built a stout feeder, similar to what JD showed, out of wood, but used hog panels for the slanted parts where they pull the hay through. It lasted many years.

A cow will eat approximately 3% of her body
weight on a dry matter basis per day, so a
1000 lb cow will eat approximately 30 of
hay per day. They will eat more as it gets
colder, but 3% is what I budget for per
day.

I always figured about 1/3 of a square bale per day per cow. I am in North Texas and probably don't feed near the hay someone in Illinois does, that figure always worked for me in our climate. Round bales are ok, but I do still like feeding small squares with the 4 wheeler.

Lots of variables to consider.

-What do the mommas weigh.
-What do your bales weigh.
-How cold does it get.
-What is the quality of the feed.
-How many days will they be on feed.

-Average of 1300-1500 lb cow allow 35 lbs a day including waste.
If your bales are 70 lb you are looking at 1/2 bale a day.

-If it gets real cold where you are at they will need more when the temp drops, good bedding makes a big difference.

-If your hay was cut late and rained on a time or two before it was baled the protein and energy may be too low and you will have to supplement it with grain, pellets etc.

-Figure how many days you will be feeding them until the grass comes back then add at least 20 % for a safety margin.

-Spend the money on some good mineral and salt, the problems you will avoid by doing this will pay for it many times over.

-Of course good clean water and shelter from the wind must be provided as well.

-Watch what you are buying, most of what goes to the auction this time of the year are the older or problem cows along with the ones that preg checked late or open.

Usually see bred cow sales closer to year end, complete herd dispersal and retirement sales are often a place to get some decent animals.

1/2 a bale per cow per day is enough, but they will likely eat more if you give them more.

location location location you should have longer grazing season than i do on il wis state line.
the size of the cow makes a difference too.will cows be nursing a calf and bred back with next years calf? it makes a difference.
i watch what cows are eating if they are leaving hay behind back off on it colder temps they will eat more i figure 30-35 lbs per cow per day.
i rent 16 acres of corn ground to a neighbor the last 3 or 4 years i have not baled 3rd crop hay. when my neighbor gets his corn off i let the cows out on those corn and hay fields because of this i have not had feed much hay until mid dec. when will you able to put cows out on grass?
there are lots of factors to think about here.
don't cheat them on feed and water a hunger cow is an unhappy cow. watch them they will tell what they need. don't buy hay for the price some times you can get a bargain sometimes get hay cheap other times it isn't good for anything other bedding