How much hay to feed an angus cow?

Question

How much hay a day does an angus cow with calf require in adelaide hills region during summer months? The cows are breeding cows and approx 40-450kg. The calves are a couple of months old. There is a bit of supplementary feed in the paddocks.

Answer 1

15 to 20 kg will be lots if its good quality hay.

Answer 2

20-25 kg of quality hay should be enough.  If they don't eat it all decrease a little and if they eat it too soon, increase a little.

Answer 3

For a cow and calf, I figure 2.8% of their body weight in dry matter forage.  A dry cow, 2.5%, one in the early part of lactation or growing calves, 3%  For example, a 450kg cow would need 12.6 kg of dry matter and figuring hay at an average 15% moisture, she'll need14.5 kg of hay.  

This is a general rule, with very high quality hay she won't need nearly as much, with very poor hay, she may not be able to eat enought to fufill her nutritional needs.  Figure a dry cow at 8% protein & 50-55% TDN, lactating cow 11-12% protein & 60% TDN, cow calf at 10-11% protein & 55% TDN.  If your hay is low in protein, feeding supplemental protein will help them digest the hay better.  With decent hay or pasture, they shouldn't need any supplement or concentrates.  You say summer?  With decent forage they shouldn't need any hay or grain.  Salt only.

Answer 4

The cow and calf would need 25 to 30 pounds of hay per day if it is good quality hay (around 11 to 14 kg/cow).  This needs to be adjusted with the amount of supplementary fed available to them.  Watch their condition, if the cows are getting fat, you are probably feeding them too much. If their condition is falling off more than expected, feed them more.  On good pasture with plenty of rain they may not any hay at all.

Answer 5

a good rule of thumb is 30 to 50 lbs daily. this depends on the nutritional value of the hay.

Answer 6

We have a nutritionist at our local elevator that we consault all this with, you should try that.  We have 40 head of cow/calf pairs, but lucky me I get to pich the hay, so I am not sure how many pounds.  Good luck!