Ninety-six mid-gestation spring-calving cows were stratified by BW (562.9 ± 72.6), BCS (4.9 ± 0.7), and age (4.5 ± 2.0) into 2 replicate groups of 8, 16, and 24 cows to evaluate stocking rate and feeder design effects on hay waste. Cone feeders were equipped with cradle-chains (cone), sheeting on upper (50 cm) and lower (60 cm) portion, and 16 feeding stations (45.2 cm wide) separated by vertical bars (230 cm diameter, 170 cm height). Open feeders (ring) had no sheeting and 17 feeding stations (44.4 cm wide) separated by angled bars (240 cm diameter, 120 cm height). Feeder type and stocking rate were arranged in a 2 × 3 factorial, and randomly assigned to a 6 × 6 Latin square. Tall fescue round hay bales (87.3% DM, 6.33% CP, 66% NDF, 152 cm width x 170 cm diameter) were offered on circular end and replaced every third d (8), every other d (16), or daily (24) to ensure ad libitum hay access. A single bale was offered to 8 and 16 each period, while 24 were offered 3 bales. Bale number was not significant, so bale measures were averaged within period. Waste was collected daily, and residual forage (ORTs) was collected before new bale offering. Estimated DMI was hypothesized to not differ, while waste was expected to decrease with increasing stocking rate in ring, but not differ in cone. Estimated DMI did not differ (P > 0.10) as percent of BW (2.0 ± 0.1%) or kg·hd⁻¹·d⁻¹ (11.8 ± 0.3 kg·hd⁻¹·d⁻¹). A stocking rate by feeder interaction was observed due to changes in magnitude of difference when waste was expressed as kg·hd⁻¹·d⁻¹ (P = 0.05), percent of disappearance (%disp) (P = 0.07), and percent of intake (%intake) (P = 0.09). Waste was greater in ring (P < 0.05) than cone for 8 (2.9 vs. 2.0 kg·hd⁻¹·d⁻¹, 18.8 vs. 14.0%disp, 23.4 vs. 16.4%intake) and 24 (3.3 vs. 1.7 kg·hd⁻¹·d⁻¹, 22.4 vs. 12.5%disp, 29.2 vs. 14.7%intake), for 16 waste was increased (P = 0.09) (2.7 vs. 2.1 kg·hd⁻¹·d⁻¹, 18.8 vs. 15.4%disp, 23.6 vs. 18.3%intake). Increasing stocking rate to greater than 1 cow per individual feeding space did not reduce estimated DMI. Stocking hay feeders greater than 1 cow per individual feeding space or having no defined feeding space within feeder increased hay waste.