animals eat straw autonomously

It's difficult to keep track of which animals need food to "hurry" feeding them so they don't die.  I put a stockpile in the middle of my pasture set to only accept straw.  I thought maybe they'd eat it on their own, but they don't.  It does make it a little quicker for my nobles and serfs to feed them since they don't have to go as far, but I still have to keep track of the animals myself since even someone with a high ranching priority doesn't seem to feed them fast enough sometimes.  They should eat autonomously.  If I put an actual cow or deer in a pen with a pile of hay, they're not going to just stand around and starve to death--they're going to eat the hay that's right next to them.