Big Squares

[mnmtranching]

Have many of you fed big square bales?

They are getting very popular in the North Country.

 

[Running Arrow Bill]

To date we've only fed large round bales 5x6. However, we may be trying a semi-load of alfalfa/orchardgrass mix large squares from Canada. Latest price FOB our location is $180 a ton. Ends up essentially the same price we are paying for #1 bermudagrass rounds locally.

Comments??

Thanks, Bill

 

[mnmtranching]

Couple things that are nice about buying big squares.

They are stored inside, a must. Never heard of anyone storing big squares without cover.

No waste from weather spoilage.

Nice to feed, If you don't have equipment to handle them, they come apart real easy. In sections like little squares

They load real nice.

 

[IL Rancher]

I saw them stacked all over the place outside when I lived out west but the amount of moisture they get out there is very, very little compared to the midwest. It was almost as if they were using them as windbreaks they were so tall, must have used a telehandler to stack them like that.

We have used them here when we buy hay, never the real big ones but the 1000 pound ones.. Talking the a hay supplier and he sad the biggest didn't work very well around here in his opinion because you just couldn't get the hay dry enough and it would mold on you here.. I would try the 3X4 I think if they weren't so darn expensive..

 

[mnmtranching]

Yeah your right, No hay sheds in Eastern Montana and almost all new balers being bought out there are big squares. With about 10 in of precipitation a year and almost always low humidity, you can find 15 year old bales still green inside. But I'm talking Minnesota where all big squares are stored under cover.

 

[cfpinz]

Couple hours north of here they're catching on but locally not popular. Father bought some this year, seemed like a good package to stack and handle but I don't have the inside capacity to handle them. Rolls are much more convenient for me. Neighbor had some stacked uncovered by the side of a major highway. Some jackass tossed a cigarette too close, they burn nicely.

cfpinz

 

[Dave]

Most of the dairies around here have gone to using them. No handling hay by hand and you can stack twice as much hay in the same area as round bales. I also have a friend who feeds them to his beef cows. I helped him feed a couple of times. He loads 5 or 6 bales on a wagon. Pulls out in the field, puts the tractor in low, get off and climbs on the wagon. He cuts the twine and starts kicking flakes off as the tractor slowly putts across the field. He feeds 150 mother cows pretty quick and easy. But you need big flat pastures for this method.

 

[papple]

We bought a load of that Alfalfa /orchard grass from canada. Its about half price of wht its going for here and my cows and horse love it. 3x3x8 Very fine quality hay.

 

[blkcloud2]

How do you handle the 1000 pound bales? with forklift forks?

 

[Running Arrow Bill]

We bought a load of that Alfalfa /orchard grass from canada. Its about half price of wht its going for here and my cows and horse love it. 3x3x8 Very fine quality hay.

Yep! We also checked into Canada Alf/Orch mix. By any chance was it from that large producer in Manitoba?

Delivery here was almost as much as the hay cost! ;-)

 

[George]

We bought a load of that Alfalfa /orchard grass from canada. Its about half price of wht its going for here and my cows and horse love it. 3x3x8 Very fine quality hay.

Yep! We also checked into Canada Alf/Orch mix. By any chance was it from that large producer in Manitoba?

Delivery here was almost as much as the hay cost! ;-)

So what price was the hay a ton in manitoba?How much did it cost to get it hauled to texas from manitoba?Did they charge you buy the ton,or by mileage.Thanks.

 

[msscamp]

How do you handle the 1000 pound bales? with forklift forks?

There are many different ways to handle big squares. Bale spears come in different lengths to handle everything from 3X3X8's on up to the 4X5's. Some people use a bale spear attachment on a front end loader, and some people modify their bucket so they can attach bale spears to it. There are also spears that attach to the rear hydraulics of the tractor. In the case of 3X3's, you can also move them using a bucket with grappling hooks, or a large bucket with a chain or ratcheting bale strap. I imagine the chain/bale strap would also work for larger bales, but I'm not sure.

 

[cfpinz]

How do you handle the 1000 pound bales? with forklift forks?

There are many different ways to handle big squares. Bale spears come in different lengths to handle everything from 3X3X8's on up to the 4X5's. Some people use a bale spear attachment on a front end loader, and some people modify their bucket so they can attach bale spears to it. There are also spears that attach to the rear hydraulics of the tractor. In the case of 3X3's, you can also move them using a bucket with grappling hooks, or a large bucket with a chain or ratcheting bale strap. I imagine the chain/bale strap would also work for larger bales, but I'm not sure.

Weakling! :lol:

Why do you think they have strings? Just grab them like a normal square bale! :lol:

cfpinz

 

[mtncows]

How do you handle the 1000 pound bales? with forklift forks?

My three prong spear on the loader handels them nicely. unloaded 50 or 60 this summer and did fine

 

[msscamp]

How do you handle the 1000 pound bales? with forklift forks?

There are many different ways to handle big squares. Bale spears come in different lengths to handle everything from 3X3X8's on up to the 4X5's. Some people use a bale spear attachment on a front end loader, and some people modify their bucket so they can attach bale spears to it. There are also spears that attach to the rear hydraulics of the tractor. In the case of 3X3's, you can also move them using a bucket with grappling hooks, or a large bucket with a chain or ratcheting bale strap. I imagine the chain/bale strap would also work for larger bales, but I'm not sure.

Weakling! :lol:

Why do you think they have strings? Just grab them like a normal square bale! :lol:

cfpinz

Gee, I'm not sure how one does that........demonstration please? :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[cfpinz]

How do you handle the 1000 pound bales? with forklift forks?

There are many different ways to handle big squares. Bale spears come in different lengths to handle everything from 3X3X8's on up to the 4X5's. Some people use a bale spear attachment on a front end loader, and some people modify their bucket so they can attach bale spears to it. There are also spears that attach to the rear hydraulics of the tractor. In the case of 3X3's, you can also move them using a bucket with grappling hooks, or a large bucket with a chain or ratcheting bale strap. I imagine the chain/bale strap would also work for larger bales, but I'm not sure.

Weakling! :lol:

Why do you think they have strings? Just grab them like a normal square bale! :lol:

cfpinz

Gee, I'm not sure how one does that........demonstration please? :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

It would be my pleasure, but then I'd have to deal with all of you ladies on here lusting after me and there's only so much to go around! :lol: :lol: :lol: :cowboy: :lol: :lol: :lol:

cfpinz

 

[dun]

It would be my pleasure, but then I'd have to deal with all of you ladies on here lusting after me and there's only so much to go around! :lol: :lol: :lol: :cowboy: :lol: :lol: :lol:

cfpinz

That gagging sound wouldn;t be "lusting"

 

[BTRANCH]

we bought our first big square bale this fall. Was the prettiest hay we had fed all winter. Right now, they are cheaper than the rounds because not everyone wants them, can move them, or can put a whole bale out to feed. That is just my opinion. I will definately buy more this year.

 

[msscamp]

How do you handle the 1000 pound bales? with forklift forks?

There are many different ways to handle big squares. Bale spears come in different lengths to handle everything from 3X3X8's on up to the 4X5's. Some people use a bale spear attachment on a front end loader, and some people modify their bucket so they can attach bale spears to it. There are also spears that attach to the rear hydraulics of the tractor. In the case of 3X3's, you can also move them using a bucket with grappling hooks, or a large bucket with a chain or ratcheting bale strap. I imagine the chain/bale strap would also work for larger bales, but I'm not sure.

Weakling! :lol:

Why do you think they have strings? Just grab them like a normal square bale! :lol:

cfpinz

Gee, I'm not sure how one does that........demonstration please? :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

It would be my pleasure, but then I'd have to deal with all of you ladies on here lusting after me and there's only so much to go around! :lol: :lol: :lol: :cowboy: :lol: :lol: :lol:

cfpinz

:shock: :lol2: :lol2: Easy there, big guy, all that fantasizing can't be good for your pace-maker! :lol: :lol:

 

[papple]

The price we payed for the hay was delivered to my place from canada. Still under half price of hay here. Check out his web page. Real nice fellow to do bussiness with. http://www.marshallforage.com/
We load and unload with a fork lift but we happen to have one. I since built a hay spike for my bobcat. works fine.