Increasing Hay Utilisation - Sheep

Increasing Hay Utilisation – Sheep

Lowering hay waste reduces the cost of feeding livestock. It also means that less hay needs to be transported, stored, fed out, and, if wasted, cleaned up.

Compare hay wastage when feeding on the ground to feeding through an Advantage Feeder.

Period of Feeding (days)(Required)

150 days per year is a common period for sheep to be fed hay.

Average Time for a Bale to be Consumed (days)(Required)

This is the number of days for a bale to be consumed.

Bale Weight (kg)(Required)

Large square bales of hay commonly weigh 600kg and 5x4 round bales commonly weigh 350kg.

Total Amount of Hay Consumed (tonne)

Cost of Feed per Tonne ($)(Required)

Enter the cost of your feeding ration.

Total Cost of Feed Consumed ($)

Investment in the Hay Feeder ($)(Required)

Current pricing on feeders can be found on our Product Directory.

Lifespan of the Products (years)(Required)

Please enter a number from 1 to 30.

How long the product is expected to last. Maximum input is 30.

Depreciation Cost ($/year)

Straight line depreciation over two-thirds the lifespan of the product with a $0 residual. Assumes the feeder is only used for this period each year.

Proportion of Wastage Without the Feeder (%)(Required)

Enter the additional amount of waste you estimate from feeding on the ground compared to feeding through an Advantage Feeder.

Additional Hay to be Fed ($)

Additional Profit ($)

Additional profit gained through this feeding period.

Payback Period (months)

Number of months for the additional profit to exceed the investment in the product.

Email Address(Required)

Enter your email address to have a copy of these results sent to you.

Why Using Hay Feeders Matters

Feeding hay, silage, or straw directly on the ground can lead to significant wastage of valuable fodder. Using Advantage Feeders hay feeders helps improve feed utilisation, reducing waste and increasing efficiency on your farm.

Additional Considerations Increasing Hay Utilisation – Sheep

Farming operations are complex, and the following factors have not been included in this calculator:

Reduced hay storage needs: Using less fodder means up to 30% less storage is required, potentially lowering costs for sheds or other storage solutions.
Parasite risk: Feeding fodder on the ground increases the likelihood of livestock ingesting worms from contaminated faeces, raising parasite management costs.
Pasture impact: Wasted fodder can inhibit future pasture growth in that area or require additional cleanup efforts.

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