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Estimate how much hay your goats need and what it will cost — by day, week, month, or year. Enter your herd below to get started.
Defaults are typical small-farm hay prices. Update with your actual bale sizes and prices for accurate cost estimates.
Reduces calculated hay need by the percentage covered by pasture. Set to 0 if your goats are hay-only.
Enter your herd information on the left to see your hay estimate.
| Month | Lbs needed | Bales needed | Estimated cost | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Large sq. | Small sq. | Round | Large | Small | Round | ||
Estimates only. Results are based on published extension guidelines (2–4% body weight/day dry matter). Actual needs vary by breed, age, reproductive status, hay quality, and climate. Consult your veterinarian or local cooperative extension agent before making significant feeding decisions.
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Estimates only. Results are based on published extension guidelines (2–4% body weight/day dry matter). Actual needs vary by breed, age, reproductive status, hay quality, and climate. Consult your veterinarian or local cooperative extension agent before making significant feeding decisions.
Nutritionists recommend feeding goats 2–4% of their body weight per day in dry matter. This calculator defaults to 4%, which covers the higher needs of lactating does, growing kids, and animals in cold weather. A 100 lb doe at 4% needs about 4 lbs of dry matter daily.
Sources: Penn State Extension · UT Vet Med — Feeding Goats · American Sheep & Goat Center · Penn State — Reducing Hay Waste
The 2–4% rule is measured in dry matter (DM). Hay you buy typically contains 85–90% dry matter — the remainder is moisture. This means the as-fed pounds your goats actually consume will be slightly higher than the dry-matter figure. This calculator estimates as-fed pounds by assuming 87% DM on average.
Goats eat 10–20% more in cold months to maintain body temperature. If you are in a northern climate, consider increasing your consumption rate (under "Hay & waste settings") to 4.5–5% during winter months and running the calculator again for a worst-case estimate.
Poor-quality hay (mature, over-dried, or weather-damaged) has lower energy and protein density. Goats will consume more hay to meet their nutritional needs when quality is lower. Have your hay tested by a forage lab if you are managing breeding stock or dairy animals. Contact your local cooperative extension office for testing resources.
Hay loss happens in two places: storage (moisture, mold, rodents — typically 5–15%) and the feeder (hay dragged out and soiled before eating — typically 5–30% depending on feeder design). Keyhole and tombstone-style feeders significantly reduce feeder waste compared to open-ring feeders.
Source: UMN Extension — Feeding Goats
Hay alone does not meet a goat's complete nutritional needs. Always provide access to loose goat-specific minerals (not cattle or sheep minerals — copper levels differ) and fresh, clean water at all times. Water intake increases significantly during lactation and hot weather.