Hay Cost Facts – Grass Hay
Provided by Butch Carraway

• 1000lb Roll of grass hay @$55.00 = 5.5 cents per lb, or $110.00 per ton
• 1000lb roll @8% protein = 80lb of protein per roll
• $55.00 per roll – 80lb protein per roll = .68 cents per lb protein cost
• .68 cents protein cost X 80 lb of protein = $54.40 per bale
• Summary = Protein cost per lb = .68 cents per lb

Animal Health Fact = A 1200lb cow w/calf needs about 2.1 lbs of raw protein per day. That means that if you are feeding 8% grass hay, you will need to feed approx. 27 lbs per day. Based on $110.00 per ton hay (5.5 cents per lb) your daily feed cost per cow/calf will be approx. 1.48 cents per day.

Example: 50 Momma cows X 1.48 cents per day per pair = $74.00 per day

Hay Cost Facts – Alfalfa
Provided by Butch Carraway

• Retail @ $140.00 per ton or .07 cents per pound (RFV 149 & 19% Protein)
• Average 32x32x7 Bale Weight = 907lbs
• 907lbs X 19% = 172lbs of protein per bale
• 907lbs X .07 cents per lb = $64.00 cost per bale
• $64.00 cost per bale – 172lbs of protein per bale = .37 cents per lb for protein cost
• 172lbs of protein per bale X .37 cents per lb protein cost = $63.64
• Summary = Protein cost per lb = .37 cents per lb

Animal Health Fact – A 1200lb cow w/calf needs about 2.1lbs of raw protein per day. That means that if you are feeding 19% alfalfa hay, you will need to feed approx 10-12 lbs per day. Based on $140.00 per ton hay (.07 cents per lb.) your daily feed cost per cow/calf will be approx. .77 cents per day.

Example: 50 Momma cows X .77 cents per day per pair = $38.50 per day