Round bales that have been hit by rain?

fireweed farm · #1 08/08/12, 09:10 AM

My neighbours had a field cut for hay several weeks ago by another farmer, and it's been sitting out there ever since. They don't have livestock so there's a chance the arrangement fell through- I was waiting to ask if they wanted to sell it but not wanting to be nosey.

Now the last two nights we've had rain. That, plus it's a moist field so some moisture could be coming up.

I'm sure nobodies coming to get it now. Is it worth making an offer or is hay like that a waste of hauling? Or can I tell by ripping one open? Thanks.

Karenrbw · #2 08/08/12, 09:16 AM

Round bales are fine in the rain. Most farmers store them outside because of lack of space inside. I don't know how things are in your area, but it is hard to find hay around here. Small square bales are running $8.00 and I have seen round bales for $80 and up.

Alice In TX/MO · #3 08/08/12, 09:21 AM

If the grass was dry when it was baled, it's fine. As Karen said, they are designed to be stored outside in the weather. It sheds water like a thatch roof.

pumpkinlady · #4 08/08/12, 09:59 AM

you might lose about a third of the hay. a lot depends on what you are feeding them too. cows aren't as picky as horses.

Alice In TX/MO · #5 08/08/12, 10:02 AM

No. You won't lose 1/3 of the hay. The big round bales are stored outside everywhere, sometimes for years.

MO_cows · #6 08/08/12, 10:10 AM

Round bales are stored outside more often than not. You lose a little on the bottom, especially if it is damp where they sit, and you lose a little all around the outside where it "weathers". Don't expect some big discount because it was rained on.

wogglebug · #7 08/08/12, 10:15 AM

The comment about a round bale being like a thatched roof was exactly correct. Assuming the bales were set up, as if to roll, with flat sides on side and round section like a wheel, then the hay will protect itself. Not as good as if it had a plastic cover, as you often see, but not as expensive either. Round bales will last as well as an old-fashioned haystack of sheaves of hay would do.

ksfarmer · #8 08/08/12, 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alice In TX/MO

No. You won't lose 1/3 of the hay. The big round bales are stored outside everywhere, sometimes for years.

I agree with Alice. There will be some differences according to your location and how much rainfall you get, but here in Kansas, big rounds can sit out in the open for 2 or 3 years without losing that much. It helps if they are placed on a high spot so the water drains away.
Also, just because the bales are still sitting there doesn't mean they are abandoned. I bet someone is planing on hauling them soon. We typically leave bales for a month or two before finding time to move them.

luvrulz · #9 08/08/12, 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alice In TX/MO

No. You won't lose 1/3 of the hay. The big round bales are stored outside everywhere, sometimes for years.

We store ours outside under the shade of a huge oak tree. They store well and are going for $45 a bale around here, delivered.

Soupmaker · #10 08/08/12, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alice In TX/MO

No. You won't lose 1/3 of the hay. The big round bales are stored outside everywhere, sometimes for years.

Round bales stored outside easily lose a third. More if stored for years. Sometimes a complete loss.

Lazy J · #11 08/08/12, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Soupmaker

Round bales stored outside easily lose a third. More if stored for years. Sometimes a complete loss.

YES!!!

The University of Wisconsin Forage Research Team did some good work on this very topic several years ago. What many people called "Not much loss" was actually quite substantial.

I'd not worry too much about rain loss right now but I no longer store any hay outside. The losses are just too much.

Jim

Alice In TX/MO · #12 08/08/12, 01:12 PM

If it is baled right, you won't lose that much, but most balers aren't set correctly. I had Beefmaster cattle for years, and we never lost 30%. But... cattle aren't as picky as other critters, too.

Info:
http://forage.okstate.edu/publicatio...RoundBales.pdf

Alice In TX/MO · #13 08/08/12, 01:17 PM

I found the Wisconsin data you referred to. That amount of loss is attributed to the hay being baled too wet.

Lazy J · #14 08/08/12, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alice In TX/MO

I found the Wisconsin data you referred to. That amount of loss is attributed to the hay being baled too wet.

The data I was referring to was for STORAGE losses. I will try to find the reference to the research. If I remember correctly storing outside without a well drained pad could result in up to 46% dry matter loss.

I will try to find the data in my files.

JIm

rambler · #15 08/08/12, 01:55 PM

Climate has a lot to do with it. Someone from Texas or the drier western states can even get by storing small square bales outside with low losses.

Here in the humid climates, we tend to have more losses, but still most round bales are stored outside.

A good _tight_ packed bale, with netwrap, can take a fair anmount of weather with low losses for a season. by the 2nd season the loses will show up, but it's still hay....

Anyhow, it is not that uncommon to let the bales sit in the field a while and cure before picking them up and stacking them. It does get kinda hard on the hayfield if you leave them sit too long.

I'm sure the folks that baled them will be getting them.

--->Paul

opportunity · #16 08/08/12, 01:57 PM

We store our round bales outside we don't loose much. I'm a little worried about the ones that got irrigated but will still feed them

7thswan · #17 08/08/12, 02:11 PM

It also depends on if the bales are done with twine or net wrap. Twine will get more loss. Our bales get about 2" of loss hay on the outside,but the cows eat it.
Arround here bales will sit on a field until they get picked up,sometimes the baler is very busy or maybe the buyer is busy. Personaly we never let bales sit on the field,and ours are stored outside in rows along side the hayfield.

poorboy · #18 08/08/12, 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 7thswan

It also depends on if the bales are done with twine or net wrap. Twine will get more loss. Our bales get about 2" of loss hay on the outside,but the cows eat it.
Arround here bales will sit on a field until they get picked up,sometimes the baler is very busy or maybe the buyer is busy. Personaly we never let bales sit on the field,and ours are stored outside in rows along side the hayfield.

On twine tied rounds I lose approximately 1/4 stored outside, I've noticed I seem to lose even less if I don't use any twine. Just Roll 'em, tie most though cause I never know how many I'll sell..

MO_cows · #19 08/08/12, 03:50 PM

Climate, how tight the bales are, are they sitting one by one or in rows to minimize end loss, it's all situational how much hay we all lose to weather damage.

But the OP seemed to believe that a big round bale was ruined by getting rained on, once. And I think everyone would agree that is not the case.

Soupmaker · #20 08/08/12, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lazy J

What many people called "Not much loss" was actually quite substantial.

Yup a few inches around a round bale, and then more on the bottom, is a huge amount of hay.

Quote:

I'd not worry too much about rain loss right now but I no longer store any hay outside. The losses are just too much.

Same here. never understood going to all of the work of making hay to let it rot at the edge of the field.

We don't let it even sit until the next day because you ae just damaging the next hay crop.