Feed and land tool
Hay Price and Usable Dry Matter Comparison
Compare bale offers by delivered cost, dry matter and expected waste instead of price per bale alone.
The lowest cost per usable pound is not necessarily the right forage for a particular horse.
Remove water and expected waste before comparing cost.
Dry matter pounds equal bale weight multiplied by the dry matter percentage. Usable dry matter then removes your expected storage and feeding waste. Delivered cost equals bale price times bale count, plus delivery. Cost per usable pound divides those two values.
Nutritional suitability, mold, dust, maturity, species, storage quality and laboratory analysis still matter.
Related: Hay and Winter Feed Calculator, Winter Care, and Supplements.
Sources
- University of Minnesota Extension: Understanding your hay analysis
- University of Minnesota Extension: hay waste and storage losses
Guidance last reviewed August 24, 2026.