Hay ring vs unrolling.

[wsessions1005]

Ok we have always used hay rings. I don't understand the benefits of unrolling. To me it would waste a lot of hay. What dose everyone think.

 

[MIKE R]

I've only heard of unrolling when the cattle are in stanchions. Have a row on each side and unroll the bale between the two. Its easier then giving flakes of hay to each cow. Unrolling it outside would just be a waste. They will poop and lay on it. Rings are the most common up around here.

 

[wsessions1005]

I can see the benefits in a situation like that.

 

[bigbull338]

unrolling out in the pasture is just wasting hay,because as cattle eat they are going to walk on oee an mess on it.as well as lay on it.with rings you have very little waste where as unrolling you have 40% waste in my eyes or more.

 

[Egbert]

Unrolling will definitely waste a lot of hay. As Mike R pointed out, the cows will ruin it.

 

[Tx Jim]

I think amount of hay wasted will be determined by how many cows a person is feeding per bale of hay. My neighbor rolls out one bale of hay for 30 cows with calves and has very little waste. I on the other hand only have 12 cows and I put hay rings around the bales. How often one feeds and how much also determines amount of hay wasted

 

[corl]

Hay rings waste about 15% of the hay. Unrolling is cow number dependent. If you have lots of cows it is less stressful and wasteful to the cows to unroll. More space to get to the hay. With round bale feeders you can only get a certain number of cows fed at a time. If you unroll more hay than the cows will quickly eat they will poop and lay down in the hay wasting more than the 15% lost in the feeder situation.

 

[AndersonFarm]

I think amount of hay wasted will be determined by how many cows a person is feeding per bale of hay. My neighbor rolls out one bale of hay for 30 cows with calves and has very little waste. I on the other hand only have 12 cows and I put hay rings around the bales. How often one feeds and how much also determines amount of hay wasted

Just what I was thinking. I know people that unroll, but they are feeding a large number of cattle. They like it due to the less waste and they say it helps re-seed their pasture at the same time.

 

[D7E]

We have done both and i see no difference in waste if not over fed . Feed small amount twice a day they eat it ALL .

 

[Soundguy]

i ring em.. keeps more of the poop and pee off.

only way I'd unroll is if I was feeding a line of cattle... and that wouls still be with a reach thru wall.

 

[japody]

We unroll ours. It allows all of the cows (50) access to the hay and they don't fight over it. The little ones also get to have a nibble. Very little waste.

 

[Soundguy]

full pasture access.. or controlled access thru a reach thru gate or?


If I unrolled hay.. my stupid cows would stand right on it and waste half of it by the time they got a mouthfull.. after going to the bathroom all over it 3 times...

 

[japody]

Full pasture access. There is little waste.

 

[Soundguy]

you must have very smart and orderly cows...

 

[japody]

Probably more hungry than smart!

 

[Soundguy]

geographically.. I'd guess much much colder.. thus more energy used for heating.. so yeah.. I'd say hunger and eating effiency may be a pretty good driving force vs where I am in florida.. though we did just barely get near freezing last night.. for a few hours.

 

[japody]

We also have some pastures with longhorn cattle. No way we could use hay rings with those horns.

 

[Soundguy]

We also have some pastures with longhorn cattle. No way we could use hay rings with those horns.

you probably could... I do.. my cows quickly learned how to turn their head sideways to get one horn in to get to the roll. in fact. if I gon't put a ring out.. my longhors will absolutely maul a roll. They will horn and spear it and turn it.. tear the netting off and everything.


lotsa damage for something without a full set of front teeth..

my larger angus are much more easier on the rolls. .. evenmore so than my horses...

ps.. you can get rings with no top bar.. just triangle dividers... keeps em from stepping on.. but an animal can pull head out and in fromthe top unobstructed.

lastly.. you can take old rings that are the 3 ring style.. and when the bottom ring rusts too much.. knock off the legs to that ring and make it a short 2 ringer.. and that still keeps them from stomping on it.

I use all 3...

 

[DavidBR]

As Others have said it is all dependent on your situation. Unrolling works good when you have lots of cattle in one pasture and lots of space so you can move where you unroll your hay around to minimize ruts and pasture damage. I feed 120 head of momma cows 6 bales every day and there is almost no waste. They are in different pastures of about 350 acres in each pasture and you always can find a clean place to feed hay. The only downside is it is very labor intensive. Tractor must be used every day and hay put out obviously, but the benefits of all cows being able to eat and keeping them out of belly deep mud around rings far outweigh the labor. For small groups of cattle I prefer hay cradles that elevate the hay off the ground to keep the hay dry as it sits out. It just all depends on your situation.

 

[kwall]

I will unroll hay when I have to conserve hay. I have only 25 mama cows, I only unroll about 1/3 a bale each day, they eat that up then go off and graze. If it seems they are not getting full then I will increase the amount the next day. If I unroll more than they can eat they will indeed lay in it but when I have plenty of hay I'll put it in rings. They eat about 125 rolls a season in the rings and about 100 when I unroll it.