New Winter Feed Cost Calculations

Feed-Cost Estimates Gauge Price to Carry Cows Through to Spring

Hay price and availability this year will factor heavily into the decision to carry beef cows through the winter. (DTN/Progressive Farmer file photo by Boyd Kidwell)

Cattle producers still dealing with poor pasture conditions have a delicate balance ahead of them as winter looms. Do today's higher feed prices and limited hay supplies outweigh the cost of carrying beef cows through the next several months?

The University of Missouri Extension's "Beef Cow Feed Cost Dashboard" from field specialist Gene Schmitz can help producers estimate daily feed costs for a beef cow. His estimates consider winter feed costs based on varying qualities and prices of hay. It compares fall- and spring-calving cows, as well as purchased versus raised hay.

Input prices used were current from a local feed supplier and for Missouri Department of Agriculture estimates for hay prices of varying quality, based on mid-September 2022.

Hay qualities are defined this way: Hay that grades as "good" has crude protein (CP) of 10%, total digestible nutrients (TDN) of 58%, net energy for maintenance (NEm) of 0.56 Mcal/lb. Hay that grades "fair" has an 8% CP, a 53% TDN, and a 0.52 Mcal/lb. Hay that grades "poor" has a 6% CP, a 48% TDN, and a 0.47 Mcal/lb.

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Raised hay prices are based on 2022 cropping budgets from the University of Missouri. Spring-calving cows are assumed to be dry and mid-gestation.

HAY PRICES

The estimates place the price of good hay at $150 per ton, fair hay at $125 per ton and poor hay at $115 per ton. This is for a single estimated 1,200-pound bale. Raised hay is estimated to have a value of $90 per ton, without accounting for nutrient quality.

SPRING CALVERS

A median supplement cost was calculated for each type of hay for a spring-calving cow herd. Average supplement per head, per day, for dry spring-calving cows (including salt and mineral) was 2 pounds of good hay, 3.2 pounds of fair hay and 5.2 pounds of poor hay.

The breakdown of feed costs per head, per day for those spring calvers was $2.68 (purchased good hay), $2.38 (purchased fair hay), $2.48 (purchased poor hay). For raised hay, the daily feed cost estimate was $1.75 (good hay), $1.86 (fair hay) and $2.15 (poor hay).

FALL CALVERS

A median supplement cost was also calculated for each type of hay for a fall-calving cow herd. Average supplement per head, per day for fall-calving cows (including salt and mineral) was 2.8 pounds of good hay, 4.8 pounds of fair hay and 6.3 pounds of poor hay.

Fall-calving cows had higher feed costs due to lactation. Estimates here for feed costs per head, per day came in at $2.90 (purchased good hay), $2.68 (purchased fair hay) and $2.68 (purchased poor hay). For raised hay, the daily feed cost estimate was $1.94 (good hay), $2.16 (fair hay) and $2.34 (poor hay).

None of the estimates included an allowance for hay waste. Poorer-quality hay can be expected to have higher waste, and that should be taken into account.

The estimates are meant to give producers a general idea of winter feed costs. The goal is to help them in deciding to keep or carry over livestock, as well as whether to buy or not buy additional hay and feed supplies.

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