Bales and storage space needed to feed your herd through winter.
Total hay needed
30.0 tons
60,000 lb
Bales needed
at 1200 lb each
50 bales
Storage volume
5,455 ft³
Barn floor area
assumes 12 ft stack height
455 sq ft
A mature beef cow eats roughly 2.5% of bodyweight in dry matter per day — about 25 lb of hay for a 1000 lb cow, plus 10–15% waste from feeding losses. Round bales waste more than square bales unless you ring-feed.
Round bales left outside lose 20–40% of dry matter to weather. Under roof, losses drop below 5%. That's the real payback on barn storage.
total_hay = head × daily_lb × days
bales = ceil(total_hay ÷ bale_weight)
barn_sqft = total_hay ÷ density ÷ stack_height
Pasture Stocking Rate
Animal units per acre — see whether your forage quality and head count balance.
Grazing Days
How long a pasture lasts — forage pounds × allowable utilization ÷ herd demand.
Cattle Feed Conversion
Days to finish, feed pounds, and cost per gained pound for grass, mixed, or grain finishing.