Round Bale Preferred Size
- Thread starter rotirahn
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slowzuki
Elite Member
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- Sep 19, 2003
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- 4,100
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- New Brunswick, Canada
- Tractor
- Kubota L5030 HSTC, MF 5455, Kubota M120, Allis Chalmers 7010
Drove me nuts picking up all the little 4x4 round bales. There are basically 2 4x4's in one 5x4. We went back to idiot cubes.
Square. :thumbsup:
Wow thank your for all your infos, i did not expect this much replies! 
I am living in Turkey and I want to start up a small dairy farm business. I was making a research about the feeding of dairy cows and I wanted to know what size of bales farmers prefer in their business, what are the pros and cons of different sizes? Thank you all for your answers.
I still wonder if there is a trend going towards bigger bales, because from what I see there are some balers like Lely Welger RP 535 which can produce 6.5 foot (2 meters) diameter round bales. Are these practical?
Thank you again.
I am living in Turkey and I want to start up a small dairy farm business. I was making a research about the feeding of dairy cows and I wanted to know what size of bales farmers prefer in their business, what are the pros and cons of different sizes? Thank you all for your answers.
I still wonder if there is a trend going towards bigger bales, because from what I see there are some balers like Lely Welger RP 535 which can produce 6.5 foot (2 meters) diameter round bales. Are these practical?
Thank you again.
tessiers
Platinum Member
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- Sep 22, 2007
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- 727
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- Central Maine
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- 05' JD 790 - 53' Ford NAA - 70' Massey Fergusen 135 diesel - 67' John Deere 3020 deisel - 77' John Deere 2130 - 1950 John Deere MC
Wow thank your for all your infos, i did not expect this much replies!
I am living in Turkey and I want to start up a small dairy farm business. I was making a research about the feeding of dairy cows and I wanted to know what size of bales farmers prefer in their business, what are the pros and cons of different sizes? Thank you all for your answers.
I still wonder if there is a trend going towards bigger bales, because from what I see there are some balers like Lely Welger RP 535 which can produce 6.5 foot (2 meters) diameter round bales. Are these practical?
Thank you again.
two things first you want a small dairy, that means small equipment and overhead
the current trend in the world is bigger and better.
I still make hay with tractors in the 30 hp range, 60 years old and still getting it done. We do 4x4 silage bales simply because they are all we can handle with the equipment we have. the other thing to consider is with the big bales comes big balers and big tractors and lots of fuel.
IHCman
New member
- Joined
- Aug 12, 2011
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- 14
- Location
- North Dakota
- Tractor
- CIH 7220, (4) IH 5088, IH 756, IH 656, (2) IH 460, Rowse double mower 9' bars, Rowse 20 wheel Vrake,Vermeer 605 M baler, Morris 900 hay hiker
We use the 6'x5' rounds. Wouldn't have anything else for the amount of hay we put up. Around 3000 to 4000 bales a year averaging 1600lbs to 2000lbs. I use a Case IH 7220 tractor and a 605 M Vermeer baler. Normally use a 5088 International but so wet this year wanted to use the front wheel assist to prevent getting stuck.
Here in North Dakota I'm not sure on the overwidth laws that people are talkig about in other states, maybe we have the laws but just not enforced as everyone uses 6'x5' bales and hauls em with semis. I move all my hay with chain movers so my bales are three wide the flat side out but I'm also not hauling on the highway just gravel roads.
I think the con to using smaller bales might be more of a spoilage issue than with larger bales, but if your storing them inside of a hay barn this wouldn't be a concern. Here everyone leaves there bales outside.
In my opinion you have to look at your own operation and decide what would work best for you. If you have a large enough tractor and loader to handle the 6'x5' bales that'd probably be the best bet. But the smaller bales would also work well if you use smaller equipment. If you sell hay, it all depends on what your buyers want.
Here in North Dakota I'm not sure on the overwidth laws that people are talkig about in other states, maybe we have the laws but just not enforced as everyone uses 6'x5' bales and hauls em with semis. I move all my hay with chain movers so my bales are three wide the flat side out but I'm also not hauling on the highway just gravel roads.
I think the con to using smaller bales might be more of a spoilage issue than with larger bales, but if your storing them inside of a hay barn this wouldn't be a concern. Here everyone leaves there bales outside.
In my opinion you have to look at your own operation and decide what would work best for you. If you have a large enough tractor and loader to handle the 6'x5' bales that'd probably be the best bet. But the smaller bales would also work well if you use smaller equipment. If you sell hay, it all depends on what your buyers want.
creekbend
Super Star Member
I do not bale hay personally, but I mainly buy 4x5's and some 5x6's. It depends on the freshness and the price. Most hay farmers in the triad region of NC bale these two sizes. Hope this helped. Happy Tractoring.:tractor::tractor:
