Hay inside barns and out

[FarmboyBill]

Thought this article might be interesting to those who hadnt seen it.
Square or round bales of hay kept dry in a good barn will last for years. Hay that is barn stored and kept dry will last indefinatly. A typical round bale stored outside will lose around 30% of its content through rotting from rain and ground moisture. In addition to the rotting, the selective eating habits of cows can cause further loss. You may lose another 20 to 30% of the hay simply because the cows will leave the undesirable hay behind.
The hay quality in square bales is better because the hay cures more efficerntly in a small bale.
Whether round or aquare, u should look for the quality of the hay rather than only how much dry matter u have,
Once you learn to smell and know what good hay should look and smell like, you will always be able to tell if you have good or mouldy hay. Barn stored hay that has had adequate drying and curing time before baling will mean high quality feed for livestock. Theres no doubt that there are people paying for a barn, whether or not theryre building one, simply because of the losses incurred through hay that is not properly stored. Once the hay is stored in the barn, the conttents dont change much as far as protein content and energy levels are concerned.

[rambler]

Some say some vitamins and minerals decrease over time, but not a worry if you are feeding other feeds (grains, lick block, some fresh grazing, etc.) with the hay.

Around here this year, any hay made was already 30% damaged by the time you got a baler to it, round or square. Rain, rain, rain......

--->Paul

[Callieslamb]

I'm always just happy if the EAT it! square is so much easier for me to feed. We would like one of those compact round balers that make the bales 200 lbs or so.

[plowjockey]

This is good news.

I have to buy hay and the cost is killing my sheep operation.

My plan is to load up on as much high quality 2010 alfalfa, as I can get - in 2011. It often sells for $3 bale or less in late winter, early spring. Most people ignore good hay, at consignment auctions.

New roof on the barn, I'm packing it full. Saving up for a flatbed trailer.

[Lazy J]

A hay barn has the best ROI of any building on a farm.

[ErinP]

We stored some idiot cubes in the hay loft at the last ranch we lived on just because they had some squares and it was useful for cows that were in the barn for grafts, c-sections, etc.

But in general?
There's no way it would all fit!! lol
The smallest ranch I've ever lived on still put up at least 1,000 tons.

[Windy in Kansas]

Originally Posted by ErinP

We stored some idiot cubes in the hay loft at the last ranch we lived on just because they had some squares and it was useful for cows that were in the barn for grafts, c-sections, etc.

But in general?
There's no way it would all fit!! lol
The smallest ranch I've ever lived on still put up at least 1,000 tons.

ErinP most folk here couldn't begin to imagine living with the low rainfall amount that western Kansas gets. Example, a car can set outside for decades and not rust away. Same for hay to a certain point. Hay shed are certainly few and far between and return on investment would be very low.

Have a good friend at Leoti that buys up older feed, some straw, some corn stover, etc. and tubs grind it along with good alfalfa and sells it to the feed yards of western Kansas. In order to have his own alfalfa supply he purchased 16 irrigated quarter sections about 5 years ago. The tub grinders he has may have old stuff put into them but they sure spit out money for him. Good Christian man that works very hard and he deserves it. Gives much to the church of his choice.

[geo in mi]

Folks around here have most of it already figured out, they wrap their bales in the field. Quality in equals quality out--but over time, you won't stop those microbes from eating all they want inside the bale, no matter what size, covered, or in the barn. Then, after awhile the hay is only one step above snow to eat, so I guess it would be okay to to grind it up, mix it in, and send it to the CAFE.

Sure was hard to get it cut before quarter bloom, though, and hold our breath for the next three days.

geo

[springvalley]

If I had help enough help, most of my hay would be in the barn. I can dump several thousand bales in the barn without stacking. But when my whole family worked here the barn was stacked full every year right to the peak, sure was nice to have 8000 bales tucked away for winter. > Thanks Marc

[djberg]

What would you think are the best dimensions for a hay barn or hay shed?

If, as Lazy J says, "A hay barn has the best ROI of any building on a farm." I should really design a few. I'll post free plans here: Free Barn Plans

Don
TodaysPlans.net

[Riverdale]

Originally Posted by djberg

What would you think are the best dimensions for a hay barn or hay shed?

If, as Lazy J says, "A hay barn has the best ROI of any building on a farm." I should really design a few. I'll post free plans here: Free Barn Plans

Don
TodaysPlans.net

As long as there is good air curculation, not more than ½ width of length (provided the length is into the prevailing wind).

Air circulation is the reason barns had 'cracks' between the boards.

Old timers (like my grandpa and great uncles) knew a lot

[Windy in Kansas]

Size would also depend upon farm size and therefore herd size--and location.

[Curtis B]

I have been thinking of barn ideas recently, and was thinking of the old time hay lofts above the floor of barns. You put up the hay end of summer beginning of fall, stack it above the livestock in the barn as it is getting colder. Imagine, three and four feet of insulation in the "attic" to help keep the barn warm. Maybe there was more to it than having the hay handy and dry, and saving footprint space with the old time barns.

[texican]

Originally Posted by djberg

What would you think are the best dimensions for a hay barn or hay shed?

If, as Lazy J says, "A hay barn has the best ROI of any building on a farm." I should really design a few. I'll post free plans here: Free Barn Plans

Don
TodaysPlans.net

The 'best dimensions' are directly proportional to how big the bank account is, or how large the stack of used tin is.

I've never met a farmer/rancher that thought their barn was big enough. Most built as much as they could afford, then added on, and added on, yada yada yada.... One distinguishing characteristic is they were as tall as possible, with high outside walls....... so additions could be tied in to stretch out storage. I've incorporated this fact into all my buildings... in case I need to expand (and indeed I have extended most barns I've built).

[Windy in Kansas]

Originally Posted by Curtis B

I have been thinking of barn ideas recently, and was thinking of the old time hay lofts above the floor of barns. You put up the hay end of summer beginning of fall, stack it above the livestock in the barn as it is getting colder. Imagine, three and four feet of insulation in the "attic" to help keep the barn warm. Maybe there was more to it than having the hay handy and dry, and saving footprint space with the old time barns.

There was more to it than that. If you feed your cattle inside of the barn then there is a lot of work to clean out the barn daily and put down fresh bedding. Also if there are very many head confined or in close proximity you have a greater chance for illness.

I followed my dad's example and only fed in the barn on the harshest of days. The mow supply was replenished each year but it was not a large area, it being a different barn style than many.

We had two feeding racks which were filled each year as well. They were each long enough that the entire herd could line up beside each other to eat. The feed in the racks was used only when it was too wet and muddy or snowy to haul a wagon load in from the field where the feed was in shocks (bundle feed tied by binder).

When I had cattle I used baled feed, mainly large round bales. I unrolled the feed to allow all to eat easily without crowding. I loved to watch little calves play while their moms ate.

[Curtis B]

Originally Posted by Windy in Kansas

There was more to it than that. If you feed your cattle inside of the barn then there is a lot of work to clean out the barn daily and put down fresh bedding. Also if there are very many head confined or in close proximity you have a greater chance for illness.

I followed my dad's example and only fed in the barn on the harshest of days. The mow supply was replenished each year but it was not a large area, it being a different barn style than many.

We had two feeding racks which were filled each year as well. They were each long enough that the entire herd could line up beside each other to eat. The feed in the racks was used only when it was too wet and muddy or snowy to haul a wagon load in from the field where the feed was in shocks (bundle feed tied by binder).

When I had cattle I used baled feed, mainly large round bales. I unrolled the feed to allow all to eat easily without crowding. I loved to watch little calves play while their moms ate.

I was really thinking of the smaller critters like goats and sheep and such. I know alot of people that keep them inside through the really cold days, and when lambing and kidding time comes. I can't imagine feeding the cattle in a barn. The mess like yo said would be huge.

[plowjockey]

Originally Posted by Curtis B

I have been thinking of barn ideas recently, and was thinking of the old time hay lofts above the floor of barns. You put up the hay end of summer beginning of fall, stack it above the livestock in the barn as it is getting colder. Imagine, three and four feet of insulation in the "attic" to help keep the barn warm. Maybe there was more to it than having the hay handy and dry, and saving footprint space with the old time barns.

I have very old, very small barn with a hay loft. Quaint, but not necessarily the most functional. It does save on floor space, but I still have the carry hay elsewhere, to feed.

What goes down, must come up first, so plan on buying or borrowing a hay elevator, unless one wants to build up their forearms, throwing hay bales upwards. I just paid $150 for a 40 year old 12' hay elevator, the best price I could find. I already have big forearms.

FWIW, if there are animals in a barn, it's never healthy to keep it warm anyway. Warmth = moist air and that is where it bacteria and viruses thrive.

It only needs to be ensured that there are few, or no drafts coming through the barn. The animals have their own insulation.

[plowjockey]

Originally Posted by Curtis B

I was really thinking of the smaller critters like goats and sheep and such. I know alot of people that keep them inside through the really cold days, and when lambing and kidding time comes. I can't imagine feeding the cattle in a barn. The mess like yo said would be huge.

Between manure and wasted hay, sheep can make a good mess inside a barn also. I'm building an outdoor covered hay feeder, since I have a very small barn and I'll have much more lambing going on this year..

usually even with the sheep I leave a barn door open, so they can get outside if they want to, plus their water (and soon hay) will be outside.

[Joshie]

Originally Posted by plowjockey

This is good news.

I have to buy hay and the cost is killing my sheep operation.

My plan is to load up on as much high quality 2010 alfalfa, as I can get - in 2011. It often sells for $3 bale or less in late winter, early spring. Most people ignore good hay, at consignment auctions.

New roof on the barn, I'm packing it full. Saving up for a flatbed trailer.

Last winter we sold good grass hay for $3/bale. We got a better price by waiting until the winter to sell it. Go to IL for cheap hay.

[garyinmississip]

The real problem with round bales is that the cows complain about not getting three square meals a day.