Figuring Hay

[Curtis B]

Due to the cost and shortage of hay this year I need to figure out how many bales I need, in rounds. I am figuring to have about 1000 lbs of animals, and at 3% for (guessing 150 days if the weather remains the same) that would be about 4500lbs of hay, or about 3 rounds. Does this sound right? Also, those that peel rounds for their smaller animals, how do you do it, I am used to small squares.

[carasel]

Curtis,
I can't help you figure.
I can tell you go here:http://www.haytalk.com.
I've been doing my hay the last 3 years and have found a lot of helpful info on the forums.

[Silvercreek Farmer]

4500 lbs sounds about right, but 1500 lb rounds are pretty big. My guess on the 4x5s we get around here is around 800 lbs, but maybe they grow them bigger in Kansas...

[Curtis B]

Normaly 1200-1500 round here. I just ordered some from an area that actually got rain and they are 1000, even he said he was bailing light this year.

[Trisha in WA]

In our area we figure 3 ton per large animal to get through winter...we have pretty hard winters though.
Round bales waste more hay if you are free choice feeding them though. You can peel hay off to feed to save on the waste...we have done that. It is a pain in the rear, but it works. We fill a trash can with the peeled off hay and take it to the critters that way.

[margo]

Can't help with the weight estimate, but we use a long handled cultivator fork, some call it an onion fork, to pull hay from the round bale. works pretty well.
Caution, do not lay it down anywhere, paint it a bright color, so you don't step on it. Ask how I know.
Margo

[Sanza]

Now I'm curious as to what kind of animals you have - show us pictures!