Feeding Out Round Baled Hay

[Ken Scharabok]

I'm in a situation to where I have 15 remaining round bales to last me until spring grass for 24 cows - but 12 of them will go to the spring cow/calf sale on the 31th of this month.

Have been feeding out one of the smaller round bales every other day. However, my dominant cows (resident herd) get most of it.

The other day I tried something different. I have a heavy-duty rake with four 6" or so teeth on the head. I hold the bale off the ground and use the rake to pull off hay at the top from one side, then move to the other side and pull what is now loose there. Move forward, repeat, etc. until its down to a roll about 18" in diameter. That then gets set on the ground.

This way at least all of the cows (and three donkeys) have a chance to get their share.

Adds maybe 10 minutes to feeding time.

I'm doing this with a truck with hydraulic arms to hold the bale from the sides. Don't know how well the small bale would come off of a spear. However, here the tractor might just be left in the field for a bit and the cattle allowed to eat the rest of the bale off of the spear. Always the trick of backing up to a tree and putting a rope around the bale to pull it off.

[bumpus]

.
I would not leave any thing around where they are feeding because when the start pushing and shoving on each other they could get hurt mainly on the spares used to tick up the round bails.

Separate some of the hay if you can so they will not be eating together.

Also I would not leave equipment in the pasture because it has grease on the fittings, and cattle love to eat grease and many greases are poison to livestock.


bumpus.

[widfam]

You should be able to cut the strings and unroll the bail so they all can have room to eat although they will probably waste more of it.

[topside1]

I've seen folks around here un-roll them down hills like a buffet line. Ken I just thought about it you may not have many hills in your neck of the woods....John

[jerzeygurl]

Originally Posted by topside1

I've seen folks around here un-roll them down hills like a buffet line. Ken I just thought about it you may not have many hills in your neck of the woods....John

yes arround here they unroll them, just gotta be careful, fil had one roll into the pond lol, the ducks love their island tho

[Ken Scharabok]

I've tried unrolling them but... You have to get the right side and the arm positioned exactly in the middle. More hassle than it is worth.

[agmantoo]

Ken, I have device that you need. It is made similar to the tool that you have for carrying the bale on the truck however it is made for a 3 point hitch. To operate the device is mounted to the tractor and the tractor is backed to the round bale and a hydraulic cylinder causes a clamp on each side of the bale to grasp the bale. The bale is then hoisted by the 3 point lift and transported to the area the cattle are fed. Once there, the bale is left clamped but is lowered to the ground and the tractor is driven forward. The bale unwinds at the rate the windrow was raked and the operator drives forward until a long windrow of hay is spread. When the amount of hay that is desired is unrolled the 3 point hitch is lifted and the unrolling ceases. This is a great way to feed. I have tried about every varitation of feeding round bales that exists and this is IMO the absolute best. Benefits are
All cattle have access to hay and the timid cow can eat just as readily as the boss cow
There is no major mud areas as you can move to different locations each feeding so the grass in the pasture is not killed.
The cattle can be fed in areas of the pasture where the fertility is low and tha manure dropped will enrichen the poor area
Areas that are lacking in forage can be used for feeding and the dropped seeds from the round bale will germinate and reestablish the forage.
There are no broken feeders and stuck trailers to attend
You do not have to get off the tractor
Did I say I liked the device
PS, I like rotational grazing even better. I have not fed the first bale this winter. What zone are you in? Here in zone 7 the pastures are greening and we are getting some growth. I can see my way through till Spring growth and I have almost ceased to concern myself with the forage needs eventhough I went into the Winter with the least amount of stockpiled hay ever and the headcount the highest. If you are interested in doing the rotational grazing and I can help let me know.

[Ken Scharabok]

This has been the first year I've run short of hay. Simply guessed wrong and bought too many bred cows to overwinter.

I have only about ten acres the resident herd is on during summer. Then on crop stubble for winter. However, this year renter planted soybeans and left the fields VERY clean. Will be corn next two years.

[Ken Scharabok]

By the way, I intentionally dumped two low-quality round bales of hay in my pond. I suspect they will eventually become pond fertilizer.

[JeffNY]

Sounds like you need one of the feeders that hold the bale off the ground, in a basket. You can put a floor in it, so it doesn't drop on the ground. Aggressive and non-aggressive animals can eat at it, as they can easily move to another spot in the feeder. I can't remember off hand the feeder I have, but it came out of Iowa. Cost 1500 delivered, and I really like the feeder. It will hold up to a 5x6 bale.



Jeff

[.netDude]

those that unroll - don't you waste alot of hay when unrolling on the ground?

[agmantoo]

There is nearly no waste with the unrolling method. You only feed what will be consumed. There are no problems from weather damaging the feed, no mud up to the belly to content with, no build up of manure, no spoiled hay to deal with, no frequent expensive equipment replacement with rusted out or damaged feeders, a large number of head can be fed at one time without having to have multiple feeders. The unrolling 3 point device only costs around $400 when I bought it about 6 years ago. I went to stockpiling fescue and doing rotational grazing 4 years ago. If your location will permit, management intensive grazing is the easiest way to manage winter feeding

[Ken Scharabok]

I have only done three bales via the pulling it off method, but, from what I have seen, bale waste is just about non-existent. However, I am putting some 24 mature cows and a couple of the older calves on it at one time. I suspect not much is left in an hour.

[JeffNY]

Depends on location, unrolling works if the ground is dry, if its wet, unrolling will lead to waste. With a feeder up off the ground, you dont have to worry about contaminating the bale. Also, yes feeders will rust, and you get what you pay for.



Jeff

[agmantoo]

Jeff, it has not been my experience that the hay is wasted if fed on wet ground. If you used the same area day after day that may be true. With the unrolling you can use a different area each day. In so doing, you will avoid the mud that is associated if feeding from a trailer or a ring. Our soil is the red clay and we get 40 plus inches of rain per normal year. Before going to the unrolling method it would get so muddy that I could not even get the tractor to the feeders and would have to drop off bales elsewhere in the pastures. It would take me a year to recover the damaged area to where I could even think about grazing it again.

[Ken Scharabok]

Actually, where I'm feeding out hay at the present time I welcome them to muck it up. It is where what was pulled out of making the pond was largely spread. It hasn't produced much even with seeding, liming and fertilization. I'm hoping their walking in some waste will help improve the fertility of this area in the future.

[Hammer4]

I have one of those 3ph bale unrollers agman was discussing, it cost about $400 or so and works real well.

The cows have a good time following the hay bale as it unrolls, grabbing mouthfuls and kicking up their heels.

We vary where we unroll them all winter long, as agman said, we target areas that need some additional mulch/seeds/manure to give them a boost.