Hay Bale Calculator
A lighter hay bale can carry more feed than a heavy silage one.
Work out Hay Bale. A lighter hay bale can carry more feed than a heavy silage one. Free, with no account and nothing to install.
Bales
286
200 t fresh · 60 t of actual dry matter
Silage and hay cannot be compared bale for bale. A 700 kg silage bale at 30% dry matter holds 210 kg of feed; a 300 kg hay bale at 85% holds 255 kg — the lighter bale carries more, and buying by weight without the dry matter is buying water. Cost per tonne of dry matter is the only honest comparison between forages, and it routinely reverses the ranking that cost per bale suggests. Wrapped silage keeps only while the seal holds. A single bird strike or a badly stacked corner admits air, and the affected bale spoils rather than degrading gracefully — which is why stacking and netting matter more than the wrap count.
How the Hay Bale Calculator works
Bale count, dry matter, days of feed and cost per tonne of dry matter from area and fresh yield. Silage and hay cannot be compared bale for bale, and this shows why.
Also known as: how many bales per acre · silage versus hay dry matter · will my bales last the winter · cost per tonne of dry matter
Frequently asked questions
How many bales per hectare?
Fresh tonnage divided by bale weight. At 20 t/ha and 700 kg round silage bales that is about 29 bales a hectare, before any field losses.
Why does dry matter matter so much?
Because it is the actual feed. A 700 kg silage bale at 30% DM holds 210 kg of feed; a 300 kg hay bale at 85% holds 255 kg — the lighter bale carries more.
How do I compare silage and hay prices?
Cost per tonne of dry matter, never cost per bale. That comparison routinely reverses the ranking that price per bale suggests.
How long will my bales last?
Total dry matter divided by daily herd demand. Sixty cattle eating 12 kg DM a day get through 720 kg daily, so 60 tonnes of DM lasts about 83 days.
How much storage space do bales need?
About 1.6 m³ for a 4×4 round bale and 2.2 for a big square. Stacking height is limited by wrap damage on silage more than by ground bearing.
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