Feeding round bales

[Jerry/MT]

You are right on target with cows being in the way while taking off net wrap. The net wrap is murder on brush hog lower shaft output seals during the summer mowing/clipping. That is why I usually try to take the wrap off before I open the gate to go into the field. I would be very careful when cutting off wrap with rowdy cattle around. Ken Sweet

I usually unwrap the net or the twine just after I enter the pasture and the cows are generally some distance away, so it's no problem. I have yet to be unable to remove net from a bale by simply unrolling it. Not so with twine. It takes me three to four times as long to remove twine as it does to remove net. If it's below freezing, it takes even longer for twine. So I'm a big fan of net wrap and put our own grass hay up that way. now if I stored hay in a barn, it would not make that much difference. But if if's and buts were candy and nuts, it would be Christmas everyday!

My biggest problem with round bales was with bales that were put up too dry and fell apart as soon as the twine or the net came off (I never though overly dry hay would be a problem). After talking to some experienced hay shakers, they told me that the hay can actually get too dry in our low summer humidity often times 10-15%) and that they bale early in the morning or at dusk in our dry conditions to preclude that. Last year I bought my own equipment and that's what I did. Lo and behold my bales held together well and I could spin them off in a controlled fashion. It beats pitchforking hay from the lanes over the fence as I did many of winters when I had custom hay put up.

 

[npalen]

This thread sparked a little nostalgia going back to my "kid on the farm days". Used to throw enough small square bales in the back of Dad's 1 1/2 ton '47 IH "wheat truck" to feed for the day. Drove out to the pasture, put the truck in "Grandma Low" and let out the clutch, climbed up in the bed, pulled the twine off each bale and pushed it out the back. "Grandma Low" was pretty slow at engine idle speed. Didn't seem to be much waste feeding this way in the open pasture.
Then had to chop a hole in the pond ice so the cows could get at the water. Then get ready for school.

 

[foreman Etexas]

One problem I noticed with unrolling bales is knowing which direction to unroll. Unrolling opposite direction that is was baled, which may be unknown, is ideal. Sometimes have to drop the bale and drive around to pick it up from the opposite side.
A bale that has been wrapped with, well, bale wrap can be a challenge. The cows are in there trying to get a quick bite so you have to chase them away in order to cut and unroll the wrap. The bulls will try to ascertain there manhood to the ladies by bucking the bale which adds to the cluster.

If its the wrong way to go forward I just back up to unroll it. I unroll one so cows don't fight to much and 4 bales go into rings. After each feeding I space the new bales from old and in spring will burn anything that will and use my 12ft drag to spread the cow pies and loose hay around.

 

[Btown]

I didn't realize you can't spear the bales from the side so my double row plan didn't fly even with some dunnage I had brought to lift the bales up on the sides. I did get 7 on there,n was coming back that anyway so it worked out fine especially since it's an experiment. Will have a flatbed next time. With our copious amounts of winter rain here in the Oregon coast range leaving hay out for days doesn't seem like it would be great for stretching hay dollars. Found these hay huts while googling options, anyone use them? Hay Feeders for Horses | Round Bale Feeder | Covered Hay Feeder

I have one of those green hay huts and one I made.



I have horses and they push the green one around when they hay gets low. They have cracked it in several places. I think cows would destroy it in no time. If you make one make it at least 2 feet wider than the bale you are going to feed. I feed 4x5 and 4x4 and mine is 6 feet wide and deep. Some 4x5's barely fit in.

 

[farmer2009]

Here's some research on waste by types of feeding. What?s The Best Hay Feeder? | Nutrition content from BEEF Magazine

I feed with hay rings. Use 3-8' rings and place 2-4x5 bales in each. This last my 17 cows with calves about 5 days. They have plenty of room to eat so there is minimal competition. Move rings at each reload. Cows will eat wet hay.

When we are forecast for large snows, I'll place some hay around in the woods for feed and. bedding. They'll eat more than you'd think. Sometimes doubling the hay available. My cows will stay in the woods and eat the hay there till the weather subsidies.

 

[farmer2009]

Here's some research on waste by types of feeding. What?s The Best Hay Feeder? | Nutrition content from BEEF Magazine

I feed with hay rings. Use 3-8' rings and place 2-4x5 bales in each. This last my 17 cows with calves about 5 days. They have plenty of room to eat so there is minimal competition. Move rings at each reload. Cows will eat wet hay.

When we are forecast for large snows, I'll place some hay around in the woods for feed and. bedding. They'll eat more than you'd think. Sometimes doubling the hay available. My cows will stay in the woods and eat the hay there till the weather subsidies.

 

[npalen]

"If its the wrong way to go forward I just back up to unroll it. I unroll one so cows don't fight to much and 4 bales go into rings. After each feeding I space the new bales from old and in spring will burn anything that will and use my 12ft drag to spread the cow pies and lose hay around."

What type of unroller are you using? I thought about trying to back up the roller but was afraid of damaging either or both of the two arms that extend to the back of the pickup when unrolling.

 

[foreman Etexas]

I can't recall the brand but looks like this one.

 

[birddog0304]

We use 2 feed trailers. Load them at the shed and put them at different areas of the pasture. I have noticed a decrease in hay requirements as well as very little waste. Also time required to feed has decreased. Just another option to consider. I know it would not be optimal for everyone.

 

[Blaze08]

Here is my little contraption I made this winter, it's not at all fancy...but the cows haven't complained. We were having a lot of rain and so I decided to give it a try. I like how I can move it from place to place with my atv.