Gittyup
Elite Member
- Joined
- Oct 4, 2007
- Messages
- 3,145
- Location
- Mid Atlantic
- Tractor
- Kioti CK25 Shuttle Shift, loaded tires, JD X739
There are high 20's to low 30's hp tractors that are heavy enough and have enough 3ph lift to move big bales. I've read posts by those that do it with Kiotis on a regular basis. Though if rough or steep terrain, it might be a bit iffy, even at that. The crux of the decision really is about the hay bales. If you need to lift big bales off a truck, stack or unstack, then you really have to go to a 40 hp tractor or bigger. This has absolutely nothing to do with how much land is involved. The number of head of cattle might drive what type of bales are used. For very small herds, square bales may be fine. When it's all said and done though, if the machine can't do the tasks at hand, then what good is it?
Besides cost, there is no reason to buy something that lets you just barely get by. None of those discussed are particularly great for finish mowing a lawn. One might get by with a smaller CUT for mowing and to move little bales of hay. But, one can do better, faster, safer with machines sized and equipped for the tasks at hand. A riding mower, GT, zero turn, or subcut will cut grass best. They won't handle the heavy stuff. A 50 hp tractor will handle the heavy stuff with ease, but may compact a lawn and be difficult to maneuver for finish mowing, and require more trimming in places it can't reach. The in-between 30 hp CUT will compromise on both ends, which is OK in many cases. But, if you can't get your cows fed, get hurt or break your tractor trying, or you have to spend a lot more time and money on small bales, did you really buy the right machine(s)?
No matter which tractor he buys, he'd still be better off cutting the acre of lawn with a Lawn tractor, GT, or zero turn. I wouldn't think about using my 25 hp CUT to mow my lawn. It's way to big, heavy, and cumbersome to manuever. Every time I take it on my lawn it either leaves ruts (R4's) or compacts it hard as a rock.
The tire type brings another point to consider. R1's will work best for tilling and working where it is wet and muddy, like around the cows and their manure. But, R1's are very hard on a lawn. If your tractor is dedicated to tractor chores you can use the R1s that are better suited for those tasks. If not, then you almost have to use R4s, which are terrible in the mud. If you have mud, you will get stuck with R4s. I regret not getting R1s, myself.
Besides cost, there is no reason to buy something that lets you just barely get by. None of those discussed are particularly great for finish mowing a lawn. One might get by with a smaller CUT for mowing and to move little bales of hay. But, one can do better, faster, safer with machines sized and equipped for the tasks at hand. A riding mower, GT, zero turn, or subcut will cut grass best. They won't handle the heavy stuff. A 50 hp tractor will handle the heavy stuff with ease, but may compact a lawn and be difficult to maneuver for finish mowing, and require more trimming in places it can't reach. The in-between 30 hp CUT will compromise on both ends, which is OK in many cases. But, if you can't get your cows fed, get hurt or break your tractor trying, or you have to spend a lot more time and money on small bales, did you really buy the right machine(s)?
No matter which tractor he buys, he'd still be better off cutting the acre of lawn with a Lawn tractor, GT, or zero turn. I wouldn't think about using my 25 hp CUT to mow my lawn. It's way to big, heavy, and cumbersome to manuever. Every time I take it on my lawn it either leaves ruts (R4's) or compacts it hard as a rock.
The tire type brings another point to consider. R1's will work best for tilling and working where it is wet and muddy, like around the cows and their manure. But, R1's are very hard on a lawn. If your tractor is dedicated to tractor chores you can use the R1s that are better suited for those tasks. If not, then you almost have to use R4s, which are terrible in the mud. If you have mud, you will get stuck with R4s. I regret not getting R1s, myself.
