Creative feed strategies for wintering cows are helpful but can be costly When hay supplies are tight, what should you feed your beef cows? Paul Beck, Oklahoma State University Extension specialist in beef nutrition, said there are several ways concentrate feed can be used to meet a cow’s nutrient requirements. Although these other feed resources are available, all feed costs are high and will require additional labor and management for a winter feeding program. Feeding free-choice hay with high supplement levels will result in high levels of hay waste and sorting. “This can be fairly low in energy to meet the cow’s requirements.”