Hay Bale Cost Calculator: Bale Cost, Feed Needs and Total Feeding Cost

Calculate your true cost per bale, daily feeding requirement, number of bales needed and total feeding cost for hay or wrapped bales.

Use the calculator to compare bale weights, dry matter, wastage, production costs and feeding periods before buying, making or feeding bales.

Results are estimates for planning purposes. Actual costs and feed requirements will vary according to yield, bale weight, dry matter, fertiliser, machinery, contractor rates, wastage, animal condition and weather.

1 Choose bale type

2 Choose production system

3 Field and production costs

Hectares cut

Yield (tons per hectare, as-fed)

Seed/establishment cost (R/ha)

Fertiliser cost (R/ha)

Lime/gypsum cost (R/ha)

Chemical cost (R/ha)

Irrigation/electricity cost (R/ha)

Labour cost (R/ha)

Land/rent/opportunity cost (R/ha)

Repairs and maintenance cost (R/ha)

Other field costs (R/ha)

4 Harvesting and bale costs

Mowing cost (R/ha)

Raking/tedding cost (R/ha)

Baling cost (R/bale)

Twine/net wrap cost (R/bale)

Moving/stacking cost (R/bale)

Transport to storage cost (R/bale)

Tractor wrapping cost per bale (R/bale)

Plastic cost (R/bale)

Inoculant cost (R/bale)

Extra handling cost (R/bale)

Storage/spoilage loss (%)

5 Bale and dry matter assumptions

Bale weight (kg)

Dry matter percentage (%)

Actual number of bales made (optional)

6 Feeding requirement

Number of animals

Average animal weight (kg)

Estimated dry matter intake (% of body weight) 2.5% of body weight is a useful planning default for many cattle feeding situations, but intake varies with animal type, feed quality and condition.

Feeding period (days)

Feeding wastage allowance (%)

7 Make vs buy comparison

Market buying price per bale (R/bale)

Bought bale weight (kg, optional)

Bought bale dry matter (%, optional)

Results

Production

Cost per bale —

Total production cost —

Total bales produced —

Cost per kg as-fed

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Cost per ton as-fed

—

Cost per kg dry matter

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Cost per ton dry matter

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Feeding requirement

Bales required per day —

Total bales for feeding period —

Cost per animal per day —

Total feeding cost for period —

Dry matter per animal per day

—

As-fed feed per animal per day

—

Total feed needed per day

—

Practical bales per day (rounded up)

—

Practical total bales (rounded up)

—

Cost per animal for period

—

Total feeding cost per day

—

Make vs buy

Make vs buy difference (period) —

Difference per bale —

Your production cost per bale

—

Market buying price per bale

—

Produced cost per kg dry matter

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Bought cost per kg dry matter

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How to Use the Hay Bale Calculator

Enter the bale type, bale weight, dry matter, number of animals, daily feed requirement, feeding period, wastage and bale cost.

The calculator estimates:

Usable dry matter per bale
Daily feed required for the group
Total feed required
Number of bales needed
Cost per animal per day
Total feeding cost

Use realistic bale weights, dry matter values and wastage percentages. Actual feeding needs may vary according to animal size, condition, weather, forage quality and the amount of grazing available.

Understanding the Hay Bale Calculator Results

Usable dry matter per bale estimates how much actual feed remains after accounting for moisture and wastage.

Daily feed required shows the estimated amount needed for the full group each day.

Bales needed converts the total feed requirement into the number of bales required for the selected feeding period.

Cost per animal per day helps compare hay or wrapped bale feeding against other feed options.

Total feeding cost estimates the full bale cost for all animals over the selected period.

These figures are estimates only. Actual results may differ because of bale weight, moisture, storage losses, wastage, animal condition, weather and grazing availability.

Planning supplements as well as hay or wrapped bales? Use the Livestock Supplement and Lick Calculator to calculate intake, bags required and total supplement cost.

For cattle finishing, use the Cattle Feedlot Calculator to estimate feed intake, weight gain, days on feed and projected profit.