Estill County Cooperative Extension

08/18/2026

Small changes make a big impact on controlling mosquitoes. Learn more by contacting your Estill County Extension Office at (606)-723-4557.

08/18/2026

Do you still need an educational component for your CAIP project? Then join us on Thursday, August 27th at 6 p.m. Dr. Gregory Halich with the University of Kentucky will be discussing Making Rotational Grazing Work Without Perfect Infrastructure.

08/14/2026

We are excited to announce a multi-county Beef Cattle Forage and Feeds Program that will be held at the Lee County Extension Office on October 1st. Call the Estill County Extension Office at (606) 723-4557 to register. The registration deadline for Estill County is September 25th. We hope to see you there!

08/13/2026

Monarch butterflies rely on milkweed for survival. Contact your county Extension office today to learn how adding milkweed to your garden can support local pollinators.

08/13/2026

How much hay do your horses need?
Source: ASC-277: Determining How Much Hay You Need; Daniel Coffey, Rockcastle Co. ANR Extension; and Bob Coleman, Extension equine specialist

Forage is the foundation of a horse’s diet, and for many horse owners, that means hay. Estimating hay needs ahead of time can help you avoid running short, manage costs and make better use of available storage space.

As a general starting point, most mature horses will eat about 2-2.5% of their body weight in forage each day. For many horse owners, that works out to roughly 20 pounds of hay per horse per day, though actual pounds of hay can vary depending on the horse’s size, age, workload, body condition and the quality of the hay.

To make a simple estimate, multiply the number of horses you feed by the pounds of hay each horse will need per day. Then multiply that number by the total days you expect to feed hay.
For example, three horses eating about 20 pounds of hay per day would need about 60 pounds of hay daily. If hay is fed for 365 days, that equals 21,900 pounds of hay for the year.

It is also important to account for hay lost during storage or feeding. A good general estimate is to add about 10% to your total hay needs. In the example above, that would add 2,190 pounds, bringing the total hay inventory needed to about 24,090 pounds.
Once you have a total estimate, divide that number by the average weight of your bales. If bales weigh 50 pounds each, 24,090 pounds of hay would equal about 482 bales. If bales weigh 40 pounds each, the same amount of hay would equal about 603 bales.

These numbers are only estimates. Hay quality, storage conditions, feeding methods and the nutritional needs of individual horses can all affect how much hay you need. A forage analysis can help take some of the guesswork out of feeding by showing what nutrients your hay provides. Because hay can vary from one cutting or supplier to the next, testing can help horse owners determine whether their hay meets their horses’ needs or if additional feed or supplementation may be needed.

For help estimating hay needs, preparing a forage sample for testing, understanding hay test results or planning a feeding program, contact your Estill County Extension office at (606)-723-4557 . Extension agents can help you find practical, research-based information for your horses, farm and forage situation.

Educational programs of the Cooperative Extension Service serve all people regardless of economic or social status and will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnic origin, national origin, creed, religion, political belief, s*x, s*xual orientation, gender identity, gender expressions, pregnancy, marital status, genetic information, age, veteran status, or physical or mental disability.

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08/11/2026

Hot summer weather can take a toll on your lawn and garden. For more information, contact your Estill County Extension Office.

08/10/2026

08/07/2026

Thinking about your fall garden? Now through mid-August, you can start planting potato seeds! For more information, contact the Estill County Extension Office.