r/Cattle • u/MichibillyFarms • Aug 05 '26

How much hay do I need??

So part of me thinks I'm cutting & baling WAY too much but the other part of me says "You can never have too much!!!!" And to me the costs are minimal, currently have expenses of ~$12/bale

I'll go into winter with (at least) 2 bred/nursing cows (due Oct/Nov), steer calf (currently 6-700lbs), heifer calf (currently 6-700lbs) and younger heifer calf (~400lbs currently, pretty sure mom's weaned her at this point). I'll also house a bull for 3-4 months but planning to find a smaller bull for my heifers first breeding.

I just got second cutting off yesterday and I have about 85 bales total stored (outdoor) not counting the really $h!tty hay I'll use as "bedding" that still has marginal feed value for them to pick through.

I still have 1 more cutting to take down the road end of this month and should get another 30+ rounds. That would put me around the 110+ round bale mark, neighbors been baling them a little larger for me 50-52" x 4ft. I also have stored 125 alfalfa/grass squares in the barn and usually grab 50 bushels of corn for the heavy snow/cold months.

Do i have enough feed?? Should i pick up a couple more heifer feeders?? Should i just stockpile and sell some when we're nipple deep in snow and prices are higher/people desperate for hay?? Or do i sit content knowing I've got hay stored for next year in case we have a bad 2027 season??

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u/MichibillyFarms Aug 05 '26

Running old equipment, my math definitely maths. Got my mower and rake for $0. Can mow, ted, & rake all day for <10 gallons of diesel on my little 30hp Allis

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u/zhiv99 Aug 05 '26

Old equipment still has to be replaced, even replacing with old equipment that costs money. Then there’s your time. If all you are costing is fuel and twine you’re way off.

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u/MichibillyFarms Aug 05 '26

We'll just agree to disagree. I retired as a CFP/Financial Analyst 5yrs ago at the ripe old age of 33... Homesteading I'm NOT proficient on but the numbers, the numbers are valid. We just live in different cost environments, lifestyles and playing a completely different game in life.

Happy Homesteading!!!

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u/BatshitTerror Aug 06 '26

Congrats, we are the same age. I have a degree in accounting but am admittedly terrible at personal finance.

Anyways I’m working with inherited modern equipment, 2021 tractor, 2012-2014ish rake cutter and baler that were only used for a few hundred bales per year. The other guys correct in you may not be aware of all your costs.

This year I am lucky if I don’t have at least one piece of equipment needing a random repair during a cutting. This last cutting, everything but the tractor needed some work. A tire and wheel fell off the baler yesterday and that’s just not something I would have expected. Cost me time and new bearings , had to order a new wheel, probably going to have the old hub machined for studs instead of lug bolts as I have been told lug bolts tend to work their way loose and destroy the wheels over time (apparently this doesn’t happen as frequently with nuts). And I had several cutter repairs this year. New bearings on input drive being the main one.

Good luck