Fodder Production Calculator
Calculate harvestable forage production as hay or silage. Estimate total tonnage, number of bales, and yield per hectare.
Results
How to Use This Calculator
Select fodder type (hay or silage). Enter pre-cut yield, residual stubble, field area in hectares, and bale weight. Click Calculate to see harvestable DM, total tonnage, bale count, and yield per hectare.
About This Tool
The Fodder Production Calculator helps plan winter feed inventory. Harvestable DM = pre-cut yield minus residual (which protects soil and supports regrowth). NRC recommends maintaining adequate feed reserves for 30-60 days beyond expected needs.
Applicability: This calculator is designed for global livestock operations, with particular relevance for North American and European cattle, pig, and poultry farms.
How the Calculation Works
Harvestable DM = pre-cut yield − residual. Total DM = harvestable × area. As-fed: hay = DM ÷ 0.85, silage = DM ÷ 0.35. Bales = as-fed kg ÷ bale weight. Typical harvest efficiency is 60-75% of standing crop (machinery losses, weather, accessibility).
Real-World Example
Pre-cut: 6,000 kg DM/ha. Residual: 1,500. Harvestable: 4,500 kg/ha. 5 ha × 4,500 = 22,500 kg DM = 22.5 tonnes. Hay as-fed = 22,500 ÷ 0.85 = 26,471 kg. At 400 kg/bale = 66 bales. Yield = 4.5 t DM/ha = 1.82 t DM/acre.
Common Mistakes & Tips
Common mistakes: not accounting for harvest losses (10-20%), using wet-weight instead of DM, forgetting that silage needs fermentation time before feeding. Tip: always produce 15-20% more hay than you think you need. Test hay quality by lab analysis for accurate NRC ration balancing.
Reviewed by Agricalc Editorial Team — Agricultural engineers and agronomists with 10+ years of field experience. Our team verifies every calculator formula against peer-reviewed extension publications. For site-specific advice, consult your local agronomist.
References
Frequently Asked Questions
How much hay can I get per hectare?
Yields vary: timothy/orchardgrass hay 4-8 t DM/ha/year (2-3 cuttings), alfalfa 8-15 t DM/ha/year (3-5 cuttings), mixed grass-legume 6-10 t/ha. As-fed (85% DM), multiply by ~1.18. In bales (400 kg), 4.5 t DM/ha = ~13 bales/ha. NRC recommends testing hay quality for ration formulation.
How much residual should I leave after cutting/grazing?
Leave 5-10 cm (2-4 inches) residual height. This protects the crown, maintains root reserves, and allows rapid regrowth. For grass-legume mixes, leave 7-10 cm. Too-low cutting reduces next cutting yield by 15-30%. NRC recommends not graze below 5 cm for sustained production.
What is the difference between hay and silage yield?
Hay: dry matter 85-90%, stored as dried bales. Yield as-fed = DM ÷ 0.85. Silage: DM 30-40%, fermented in oxygen-free environment. As-fed = DM ÷ 0.35. Silage typically retains 90-95% of forage nutrients vs 80-85% for hay (due to shattering and weather losses). FAO recommends chopping silage to 1-2 cm length.
How many bales does a cow need per winter?
A 500 kg cow eats ~12 kg DM/day. At 400 kg/bale (85% DM = 340 kg DM/bale), that's 12 ÷ 340 = 0.035 bales/day = ~11 bales per cow for 100 winter days. Add 10% waste factor = ~12 bales/cow. NRC recommends increasing feed allowance by 10-15% in cold weather (below freezing).
When is the best time to cut hay?
Cut grass at late boot to early head stage. Cut legumes (alfalfa) at 10% bloom stage. Morning cutting after dew evaporates gives faster drying. Target 15-20% moisture for baling hay. Rain after cutting reduces quality by leaching nutrients. Extension recommends cutting during dry weather windows and testing cured hay moisture before storage.
