Little baler do they make them

[KevT]

When I was kid in NM, my dad used a square baler that used wire, then one year there was a big shortage of wire and he borrowed one from someone that used twine. This particular baler produced small bales about 60% that of a regular bale. My Dad called them goat bales. It is the only time I have ever seen these and wondering why and if anyone still makes them. I have my fields broke up into 6ea 2 acre lots so I can rotate stock. I was thinking that if I could cut and get some small bales and then move stock to it, then I would have winter feed too. I am not sure how many round bales I could get from a field. Can anyone help?:cool2:

 

[KevT]

FYI funny, but yes I have goats along with Mini's and looking to get a couple of Zebu. My wife's petting zoo

 

[flusher]

Yes, you can buy small balers. But they are expensive new.

Mini Hay Balers and Compact Hay Balers | Small Farm Innovators

Mini Hay Balers and Compact Hay Balers | Small Farm Innovators

My Massey Ferguson 124 baler (two twine, small bales) could produce bales with length from about 35" to 50". The largest bale size weighed about 55 lb (oat hay). Paid $2K for the baler. Bought it right out of the field. The seller had baled over 20 acres the previous day.



Good luck.

 

[KevT]

Thanks, maybe I need to reconsider this idea... $16000 will buy a lot of hay for my few animals the 3-4 months that I need to feed them. And that doesn't include the mower or rake.

 

[Farmer495]

Buy a regular two twine square baler and shorten the length of bale up.

I can make a 12" long bale with a MF #9.

 

[DT86]

Have you read about stockpiled grazing? Not for everyone but reduces the amount of hay I need.

 

[KevT]

Have you read about stockpiled grazing? Not for everyone but reduces the amount of hay I need.

My pastures are Pensacola Bahia and I am not sure I can do that. I was under the assumption that was done with fescue grasses. We are planning on doing one field with a mix of winter rye and Bahia to see if that will help. But it is giving me ideas, Thanks

 

[rankrank1]

New Holland 65 or Ford 520 are both the smallest square balers ever made by the mainstream manufacturers. The bale chamber on either of these is 12"x16" x (whatever length you desire) compared to the most commons size of 14"x18" x (whatever length you desire) or the less common 16"x18" x (whatever length you desire) for the even larger capacity units.

New Holland you can still get parts for since it shares almost all common parts with its bigger brothers. Ford 520 forget finding parts, you likely going to have to make it.

Sure there are other oddball manufacturers out there that make some small balers but they are real pricey. Not real cost effective to buy one of those for a piddle patch operation. And if you going to do enough hay to justify an expensive baler then you might as well go with a bigger higher capcity baler if you plan to cover the acres necessary to justify that expensive quipment. It is a catch 22.

 

[KevT]

Thanks, gives me something to look for

 

[RalphVa]

I've seen a picture of a small baler on the front PTO of a Gravely.

Ralph