The How Much Hay calculator computes the number of bales of hay needed for a number of days, weeks or months based on the number of animals and the bales per day eaten by each animal.
INSTRUCTIONS: Choose units and enter the following:
- (nH) Number of Animals (e.g. horses, cows)
- (BPD) Bales per day per Animal
- (D) Duration (e.g. 4 months of winter)
Bales of Hay (nB): The calculator returns the number of bales of hay that will last through the duration.
The Math / Science
The formula for How Much Hay is:
`nB = D * (nH*bpd) `
where:
- nB = number of bales of hay
- D = Duration (days, weeks or months)
- nH = number of animals
- bpd = bales per day per animal
Horses
The amount of hay that a horse should consume every day is a function of the horse's weight and a percent of weight. The percent of weight varies based on numerous factors including the activity level of the horse and whether the horse is over or underweight. To compute the bales of hay needed for a period of time, you also need to know the weight of the bales. Bales differ based on moisture content and other factors. Often first cut verses later cuts of hay may have different weights in the bale. This all will come together to help you estimate the daily number of bales of hay for your animal. The last step is to compute that daily amount by the time duration.
Horse and Stable Calculators
- Weight of Horse: This is based on the girth and length of the horse.
- Daily Hay Weight for a Horse: This is based on the horse's weight and percent of body weight.
- Daly Bales of Hay for a Horse: This is based on the horse's weight, percent of body weight and weight of bales.
- How Long Hay will Last: This is based on the number of bales in the loft, number of horses, and the bales per day for the horses.
- How Much Hay: This estimates the amount of hay needed for a period of time based on the daily consumption per animal, the number of animals and the duration.
The most current US Hay and Straw Price Survey information data is as follows. The prices listed are U.S. dollars per ton:
- Date: 7/17/24
- State: PA
- Region: New Holland
- Alfalfa Price: $195.0 to $320.0
- Mixed Hay Price: $75.0 to $460.0
- Timothy Price: $0.0 to $0.0
- Grass Price: $0.0 to $0.0
- Straw Price: $130.0 to $165.0
Market Prices of Bales of Hay. Since bales come in different sizes and not always sold by the ton, these compute the dollars per bale.