feeding square bales

[jimg]

Is anyone here feeding cattle w/ small square bales? If so how are you doing it - dumping it on the ground, using a feeder/manger of some sort or ??? Around here it gets thrown on the ground and of course theres a fair amt of waste. My idea is feeding out off the ground would result in considerably less waste. Im looking for some ideas/guidance on this. I was thinking about trying to weld up some sort of manger on skids but I dont really have a model to go by. Dont think a round bale feeder would work well either. Ideally Id like to feed out only enough hay for a day.

 

[DennisArrow]

I don't know how many head of cattle you are feeding; but they surely are not as destructive as goats. Try:

[url=http://www.goatworld.com//////then search for hay feeder..........I tried to copy and paste but the url is protected.............

We have used this style with some changes for a few years now and they have taken the damage that the biggest 400lb billy can dish out. We have another design for the trough style with the overhead V rack that if the above doesnt work perhaps I can figure out how to get that design to you.

One the ground is perhaps 75% waste, a trough 50%, this design 25% and the trough V rack down to perhaps 10%.........Good luck........Dennis

 

[deereguy]

A product like this might work.
Cashmans Equipment - Hay Baskets

You didn't mention if the cows have horns or not, assuming they don't.

A friend built a round bale feeder with a feeder (similiar to a WER7x7) out of 4x4's and 2x6's and seemed like it help up pretty well. His design didn't use the cross pieces where they stick their heads in.
Handi-Klasp manufactures and sells the Weldy Round Bale Hay Saver

Good Luck.

 

[jimg]

Dennis, the link you give didnt lead me to any feeder...just a 911 form.

Deereguy, thanx for the links.

 

[DanD78]

I have feeders built in to my barn (a real barn not a pole building some people call barns) and outside as well. I feel the key to feeding hay with out waste is to give them enough so they clean up what you gave them before giving more. This keeps hay off the ground and reduces waste. I want to finish cattle so I keep corn/feed avaiable all the time and hay twice a day. I always feed outside unless it's raining or real windy so the mess stays out there.

 

[DennisArrow]

Hey Bud.......I advised in the post that the exact thread would not open and to go there and search for "hay feeder".............Guess it wasnt obvious enough; but try this:

Welcome To GoatWorld.Com

Then go down to the white box in the middle of the page and plug in....."Hay feeder"

The first article in the list there is pretty explanatory. I made 3 of these things; but changed the height a bit. Used pressure treated glued and screwed with deck screws.

+1 of what Dan says about limiting the new hay/feed until the old is pretty much gone. Cuts down a lot on waste.

Sorry about any confusion, just tryin to be helpful........Dennis

 

[tallyho8]

I have feeders built in to my barn (a real barn not a pole building some people call barns).

Morning Dan,
That's a real nice barn that you have. Unfortunately, some of us can't afford such a nice barn and have to use pole buildings. Just don't call it a pole building in front of my horses. They think they were raised in a barn.

 

[jimg]

Dennis, thanx I found it.

DanD, yes Im sure it true that if you feed just enough there will be minimal waste. Then again Id like to feed w/o hanging around to see if they need more. Was hoping to add flakes to a feeder and let them eat as they wanted -- doing this a couple times a day. Also keeping it off the ground does preclude them stomping on it.

 

[chh]

Back before round bales I used to help my dad feed square bales in bunks. Treated lumber(creosote then) on old telephone poles for posts. I wet years it would get knee deep in mud around the bunks. I wouldn't ever feed hay out on the ground myself. I use rings for round bales now and have used skirted round bale rings to feed square bales once in a year that I ran out of hay and squares were all that I could find to buy. it worked suprisingly well. I was putting about 3 or 4 bales per ring per day if I remember correctly.

 

[DanD78]

Morning Dan,
That's a real nice barn that you have. Unfortunately, some of us can't afford such a nice barn and have to use pole buildings. Just don't call it a pole building in front of my horses. They think they were raised in a barn.

I do love my barn but it is a money pit. Keeping shingles and paint is an on going process. There are only a hand full left in my area and I like to keep it looking half way nice. A nice pole building would be more cost effective in the long run.