CowpanionHow Much Water and Hay Do Cattle Need?
Updated: November 4, 2026
Water and forage are the basics of keeping cattle healthy. Here are the rules of thumb most small farms use.
Water
Cattle drink a lot, roughly 4 L per 45 kg of body weight a day (1 gallon per 100 lb), and up to twice that in hot weather. Keep it clean and ice-free.
Hay and pasture
Cattle eat about 2–2.5% of their body weight in dry matter a day. Rotate pasture so grass can regrow, and test or ask about your hay quality; poor hay alone may not be enough for young or milking animals.
- Change diets gradually over 2–3 weeks.
- Watch for bloat on lush legume pasture like clover or alfalfa.
- Offer a mineral suited to your area free-choice.
Keep it all in Cowpanion
Log every bale and bag in Cowpanion to see what feeding really costs per animal.
This guide is general information, not veterinary advice. Always follow product labels and call your vet when an animal is sick.
More guides
Raising a Steer for Beef: Growth, Feed and Finish Weight
How fast steers grow, how much they eat, when a beef steer is ready and how to work out your break-even price.
Read guide →Everyday careBody Condition Scoring for Cattle (1–9 Scale)
How to body condition score beef and dairy cattle by eye and by hand, and what score to aim for at calving.
Read guide →Everyday careHeat and Cold Stress in Cattle and Calves
Signs of heat stress in cattle, how cold is too cold for young calves, and simple ways to protect them.
Read guide →