OMAHA (DTN) -- Livestock producers should review their winter feeding plans. University of Missouri Extension livestock specialist Eric Meusch said November is a good month to do this before feeding actually begins.

Meusch said there are three basic steps to be ready for winter:

1. Determine animal needs

Knowing how much feed is needed to make it to spring is the first step. Cows will eat about 3% of their body weight in dry matter each day and dry cows will consume a little less.

Lactating cows, growing calves, sheep, goats and horses will eat somewhat more. For example, a 1,000-pound cow would need about 30 pounds of dry matter intake a day, he said.

If hay is 85% dry matter, the cow would need 35 pounds of hay to meet the 30-pound dry matter intake requirement. In this scenario, 50 cows would need 1,750 pounds of hay daily.

With some minor adjustments, these calculations can be made for any type, class, size or number of livestock, he said.

2. Assess forage inventory

Once animal needs are estimated, the next step is to assess available forage. Producers should evaluate their pastures and determine how much grazing is possible before feeding hay is necessary.

Hay bales vary in weight, so it is important to determine how much they weigh. Bale weight can vary even if the bales are the same size.

Depending on the density, a 4-by-5-foot bale may weigh between 750 to 950 pounds, which is a difference of more than 20%. For example, 137 tons of hay would require 365 bales weighing 750 pounds each, but only 288 bales weighing 950 pounds.

3. Project needs for supplements

In Missouri, stockpiled fescue pasture can make excellent winter feed, according to Meusch. If cattle on pastures can meet their daily intake requirements, the nutritional quality will usually meet their needs. However, hay can vary greatly in nutritional quality, so it's important to supplement any missing nutrients.

This can be done by testing the hay and developing a supplement ration to fill in the gaps. Mixed grass hay in Missouri often tests for crude protein but is insufficient in total digestible nutrients (TDN).

"Hopefully, following these basic steps can help you determine how well you have planned for feeding your livestock this winter," Meusch said.

While livestock prices have been higher, it remains important for livestock producers to control their winter feed costs, he said. If there isn't enough hay on hand for the winter, it's much cheaper and easier to buy now than in late winter.

In the end, one of the best ways to control winter feeding costs is through better pasture and grazing management, Meusch said. The more days animals graze, the more producers can reduce the need for hay and supplements.

Russ Quinn can be reached at Russ.Quinn@dtn.com

Follow him on social platform X @RussQuinnDTN

**

Editor's note:

As a new administration prepares to take office, farmers are preparing for the next growing season. In this year's DTN Ag Summit, we'll examine the state of national farm policy, including timing on a farm bill, makeup of the ag committees and new leadership at USDA. A few of the winners of this year's America's Best Farmers and Ranchers award share what they've learned from selling directly to consumers, and the DTN markets and weather team will offer their perspective on what's in store for 2025.

The DTN Ag Summit is scheduled for Dec. 5-6, 2024. Use this link to sign up: https://dtn.link/…

You can also see more about the Summit at https://www.dtnpf.com/…

(c) Copyright 2024 DTN, LLC. All rights reserved.