Choosing Hay for Beef Cows

Good hay for a beef cow is not the greenest or the cheapest. It is hay that fits what the cow needs at that stage of the year and is clean, sound and tested.

Key points

Match hay quality to the cow's stage and condition.
Maturity at cutting and curing affect quality; test to know.
Avoid moldy, dusty or weedy hay and ask about poisonous plants.
Buy based on tests and use a nutritionist for rations.

Match the hay to the cow

A mature cow in mid-pregnancy in good condition can do well on moderate-quality hay. A cow in late pregnancy or nursing a calf needs better. Young cows and thin cows need better still.

Instead of buying one kind for everyone, think about which groups need the best hay and where lower-quality hay can be used.

Do not forget the bull. A herd bull in good condition can do well on average hay for much of the year, but he may need extra before and after the breeding season.

Forage type and maturity

Grass hays, legume hays and mixed hays differ in what they supply. Which one makes sense depends on your region, soils and cows. Ask your extension office what is grown and fed locally.

Maturity at cutting matters a lot. Hay cut early tends to be leafier and more nutritious, while hay cut late tends to be stemmy and lower in quality. A test shows the difference.

Ask the seller how the hay was cured and whether it was rained on, because those details change quality in ways you may not see until the cows start eating it.

Leafy hay usually supplies more than stemmy hay
Check how the hay was cut and cured
Ask the seller about field and cutting
Test when you can

Look, smell and touch

Open a few bales. Good hay smells fresh and sweet, feels dry and is free of dust, mold and dirt. Musty smell, heat, dust clouds or visible mold are warnings, and moldy hay can harm cattle and cause abortions in cows.

Check for weeds, sticks, foreign material and anything that does not belong. Some weeds are poisonous. If you are unsure about a plant, ask your extension office. Handle a few bales from different parts of the load, because the ones on top are not always the ones in the middle.

Poisonous plants and forage risks

Some forages carry nitrate or can become toxic under stress such as drought or frost. Hay cut from fields with poisonous weeds can be dangerous. Call your veterinarian and a nutritionist if you have concerns.

Never guess about safe levels. Test, ask and, if in doubt, do not feed it.

Hay that comes from unfamiliar fields deserves extra caution. Walk the field if you can, or ask the seller what grows there, and ask your extension office to help identify any plant you do not know.

Buying hay wisely

Ask for test results, field location, cutting date and storage history. Buy a small amount first if you can, and test it. Compare price based on what the hay supplies, not just per bale.

Prices change, so use USDA AMS market reports, your extension office and local sellers to learn what is fair in your area. Written agreements help both sides.

Feeding it out

Introduce new hay gradually, and watch the cows. Feed different qualities to different groups. Keep track of what was fed and how the cows responded.

Check body condition on the 1-to-9 scale as winter goes on, and adjust. If cows are slipping, better hay or a supplement may be needed.

Introduce a new lot slowly and mix it with the hay the cows already eat. A change that looks small to you can be big to the rumen.

Common mistakes and what to ask

Common mistakes include buying by looks or price alone, feeding moldy hay, mixing lots, forgetting to test and feeding one hay to all groups.

Ask your nutritionist what quality your cows need, ask the seller for tests and ask your veterinarian before feeding anything questionable. It also pays to walk the stack or the field with the seller before you buy, so you see the hay you are paying for and can ask questions on the spot.

Keep a short record of what you bought, from whom, at what quality and how the cows did on it. Next year the record will make the buying decision much easier.

Buying on looks alone
Feeding moldy hay
One hay for all groups
Skipping the test

When to get help: Ask a nutritionist what hay quality your cows need and the seller for a test and field details. Call your veterinarian before feeding moldy, weedy or otherwise questionable hay.

Sources and further reading

Organization homepages are linked so you can search them for current guidance on this topic.

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