The described livestock feed retention insert provides a low cost alternative to significantly decrease hay waste during the feeding of live stock. The design of the described livestock feed retention insert allows it to maintain its livestock feed saving properties by fitting snugly over a selected bale of livestock feed, while accommodating conventional livestock feeders of varying diameters. The bottom member of the described livestock feed retention insert is generally the same circumference or diameter as the selected bale of livestock feed. The vertically extending bars are horizontally spaced so that live stock cannot stick their head between the vertically extending bars, which effectively decreases the area livestock are able to pull feed from the insert/conventional feeder combination. At the approximate midpoint of each of the vertically extending bars, a horizontal shelf is formed by bends in the vertical bars, which allows the insert to rest on the top member of the conventional feeder. The upper portion of the insert provides an upper extension to a conventional feeder, which prevents livestock from pulling hay from over the top of the feeder.
