Losing way too much hay to waste

[Fer.nan.dez]

Starting to run our winter feeding numbers and I'm pretty sure we wasted close to 30% of round bales last year. Cows were trampling it, using it as bedding, generally treating expensive hay like it's nothing., and it sucks because I left charge for a while. I know hay rings help but I've only got a few and not nearly enough for the herd size. Feeding daily would cut waste but that's a huge time commitment. The extension keeps saying hay costs roughly double what grazing does per pound, which makes watching waste even more painful.
Another that has got me concerned is the quality of hay this year. A lot of what I bought got rained on during first cutting or was delayed, so the TDN probably isn't great. When cold weather hits, I'm going to have to supplement way more than usual because the cows will need extra energy just to maintain condition.
So tough question for me now, worth investing in more hay rings now or should I just accept the losses and plan better for next year?

 

[k.idmnt66]

that is a painful loss!! 30% waste on expensive hay is unsustainable, especially when you factor in the cost difference compared to grazing. i suggest you invest in more hay rings immediately!! even cheap or homemade feeders will pay for themselves this season by cutting that waste down significantly. and since your hay's TDN is likely low, you absolutely cannot afford to waste feed. every bite is critical for cold-weather energy needs. you are essentially spending money now to buy back a large portion of the hay you've already paid for.

 

[Hemsw0rth_]

For the quality issue, yeah you're gonna need to supplement more this winter and you might need to get a feed test done on what you've got so you know exactly what you're working with instead of guessing. Cheaper than overfeeding or having cows lose condition

 

[j0hc0llins]

I think you should invest in the hay rings now. even if you only buy a few more, putting your best hay in the rings will start cutting that 30% waste immediately, and those rings pay for themselves in reduced hay loss within one or two seasons.
don't overthink the daily feeding unless you can't stand the waste. just focus on testing that low quality hay and having your supplements lined up