Teagasc, the farm advisory service, estimates there is a 50 per cent shortfall in hay and silage in the counties of Cavan, Clare, Donegal, Leitrim, Mayo, Roscommon and Sligo.
The organisation, which has been trying to help farmers maximise their fodder by holding a series of meetings across the State, believes there is a similar shortage of animal feed in Kerry, West Cork and Limerick.
"Most of the farmers involved have four to six weeks' supplies of fodder left but the ones we really want to get to probably are down to their last week of supply," a Teagasc spokesman said yesterday.
To reach these people, Teagasc has already used local newspapers but is now asking churches throughout the worst affected areas to announce the services on offer from pulpits.
The organisation has already drawn up feeding plans for 20,000 clients and has given advice to as many more farmers who have attended public meetings.
Agriculture experts believe the best way of getting aid to those most affected is to increase the suckler cow premium in disadvantaged areas.
This would mean the aid would go to farmers most likely to need assistance. An alternative would be to provide food vouchers through co-operative shops with local committees headed by Department staff deciding who should benefit.