How to Stop Hay Waste?

[robertwhite]

Before my cattle eat me out of house and home, what can I do to stop them from wasting my round bales?

I have the regular "S" shaped bar type of hay ring feeder. Just like any normal cow, they dig into the center, pull it apart and what falls out of the ring gets trampled, etc. I don't see a closed bottom (skirt) type doing much better as they will still just pull it out.

My local Co-Op guy said there is some kind of "hay saver" thing that attaches to the current hay ring and prevents this. I could not find them on the internet. All I found was the hand built, private company rings that are likely $1K that supposedly work best (thats what they claim anyway)

I need some type of feeder that has an inside set of bars so they can't pull it out all the way that doesn't cost an arm and a leg (say $300-400 or so) or these "saver" things if anyone knows what they are.

 

[dun]

This may sound counter intuitive but more feeder spaces per head will cut down on the pull it out and dropping ti to some degree.
Limiting the amount of time they have access to the bales will also help since they'll be intent on eating rather then lollygagging.
A larger diameter feeder compared to the size of the bales also helps. We have more waste when we use 6 foot bales then 5 foot bales. The cows have to really stick thir heads inside to reach it. I also prefer the slanted types railes rather then the S type and also closed bottoms.

 

[Anonymous]

No matter what you do there will be still be waste. 10% is considered acceptable waste

 

[JSCATTLE]

I built an elevated rack that holds 6 rolls .. its lined with cattle panel they have to work to get hay out if it but what does fall out falls under it and they have to reach under it . They can't soil it .. works much better than hay rings and it was pretty cheap to build .. I used scrap iron I already had ..

 

[TennesseeTuxedo]

How about a stationary feeder like the one pictured here?

http://bandbequipment.com/apache/hayfeeders.html

 

[hillsdown]

How about a stationary feeder like the one pictured here?

http://bandbequipment.com/apache/hayfeeders.html

You still get waste from those, we have a huge rectangular hay saver that we modified as well to make it even more efficient and still get about 5% waste.

 

[TennesseeTuxedo]

What is your opinion of the mobile feed wagons hillsdown?

 

[hillsdown]

What is your opinion of the mobile feed wagons hillsdown?

Aren't they all mobile at some point . :cowboy:

I move mine all the time to new areas when they get too mucky around them. Use a chain and pull them or lift them to where you want them at. I wouldn't pay more for one just because it has wheels .

 

[TennesseeTuxedo]

I didn't know if the design of the longer ones with the wheels made them more efficient. They are very pricey though.

 

[Isomade]

For my climate I prefer rolling it out. It's doesn't leave hay circles where grass won't grow that way, and spreads out manure.

 

[TennesseeTuxedo]

Do they eat most of it before they have a chance to turn it into bedding Iso?

 

[dun]

With the hay wagons if you get much rain the stuff that collects in the bottoms get's to be a really slimey mess to clean out and the cows won;t tough it when it's soggy even before it gets funky
Quit using ours years ago for that very reason

 

[Isomade]

Do they eat most of it before they have a chance to turn it into bedding Iso?

As long as you don't put out more than they need they do.

 

[JSCATTLE]

When its dry I un roll mine as well ... You have to feed them when they are hungry ... And only put out as much as they will eat in one day.... Also don't put out anymore until its all cleaned up ..

 

[dun]

Do they eat most of it before they have a chance to turn it into bedding Iso?

As long as you don't put out more than they need they do.

Always keep in mind, first day dining room, second day bedroom, third day bathroom.

 

[hillsdown]

With the hay wagons if you get much rain the stuff that collects in the bottoms get's to be a really slimey mess to clean out and the cows won;t tough it when it's soggy even before it gets funky
Quit using ours years ago for that very reason

We don't get rain when I have to feed cattle, just snow . ;-)

 

[TennesseeTuxedo]

With the hay wagons if you get much rain the stuff that collects in the bottoms get's to be a really slimey mess to clean out and the cows won;t tough it when it's soggy even before it gets funky
Quit using ours years ago for that very reason

Somebody should design a hay wagon with a bottom in it that's built like a utility trailer, you know with a mesh like steel cage design. I don't think much hay would fall through but the water would drain.

 

[robertwhite]

Limiting the amount of time they have access to the bales will also help since they'll be intent on eating rather then lollygagging.

I only have 2 pastures and the one the hay ring is in is also where the barn and water are. If I moved the ring to the other pasture (which I had thought of) and closed the gate, they would not be able to water. Stock pond is in the other pasture, but that freezes in the winter.

A larger diameter feeder compared to the size of the bales also helps. We have more waste when we use 6 foot bales then 5 foot bales.

Got that covered too. I use 5ft bales, but they still go in and pull out mouthfuls which in turn creates the waste.

I also prefer the slanted types railes rather then the S type and also closed bottoms.

I was going to get the slant bar/closed bottom, but if I can retrofit the "hay saver" thingies, I figure I could save some coin. I would imagine that the closed bottom (skirt) would cut down on the waste, but by how much I don't know. Pretty expensive experiment if it doesn't work.

Ever hear of the hay saver things?

 

[robertwhite]

10% is considered acceptable waste

I would LOVE to have 10% waste. I would imagine mine is more in the 25-30% range. :cry2:

 

[dun]

If the haysaver is the cone that sits ontop of the feeder it would help. It's claimed that the cone feeders cuts down on waste compared to the standard rings.