Flakes of hay - variation?

[weedsportpete]

Hello everyone - I've got some basic questions about bales of hay, especially what things influence how a bale will flake apart and how it flakes apart.

I've noticed differences in bales, some of these tend to run in a particular batch we get from the farmer who sells it to us. Other times it seems to vary from bale to bale.

I'd love to be able to pull flakes apart in widths of two inches, or sometimes three inches. Some bales come apart in just that size, others are loose and some only come apart in four to five inch flakes. I try to break these up, and while one end of the bale is loose enough that I can pick the spot where I want it to break, the other end is so tightly intertwined that I end up shredding most of it.

I've also noticed that the bales are shorter, by about half a foot, this year, as opposed to last year.

Can farmers and their equipment adjust the baling so that they can set the width of the flakes?

Can they set their baling so that both ends of the bale are loose enough to pick apart, instead of only one end?

Should all hay baled in one batch be consistent?

Can they shorten or lengthen bales easily? Is this a 'buyer beware' situation?

Some bales are kind of dusty when pulled apart. Is this caused by the cut hay getting baled too quickly?

Thanks in advance.

 

[cowboydoc]

The answer is yes to all of your questions. It's very easy to vary the compaction, length, etc. of the bale. Hay should not be dusty at all when it is opened. It's either poor quality, was cut at the wrong time, etc.

 

[5030]

Let me elaborate on Richard's explaination to say that dusty hay is actually a mold situation caused by bailing at to high moisture content.

Moldy (dusty) hay is bad for an animals digestion system and their noses too.

 

[weedsportpete]

Thanks.. Wanted to hear it from people who know it.

If you had or would sell your hay to other people, how receptive are you to them asking you to adjusting your baling to get a certain compaction and size of the bales?

 

[5030]

It's always better to buy hay by the ton .

That way, bale size is unimportant. A ton of hay is a ton, no matter what the bale size is. Problem with that is some folks that sell hay try to get a big bang for little weight.

Tell your supplier that you'd prefer to bu by the ton.

As far as compaction, all he has to do is adjust the tension on the bale chute.

 

[RichZ]

Most proffessional hay producers around here try to regulate the size of bales so that they are consistant in weight.

However, as a rank amateur in the baling of hay, I'm just happy if my bales hold together and are generally somewhat square in shape!! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[5030]

Shape and size are mostly the function of the bailer. If you are having troubles like that, I'd suggest some adjustment to the bailer. Most likely performed by a technician who knows the bailer.

 

[RichZ]

Thanks, Daryl. Actually I did that, and I have no troubles anymore.

But...I'm just still thankful that they come out tied and square!!! So many things can go wrong with a baler, I'm always thrilled when it works. And my NH 273 almost always works just fine. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[riptides]

Too funny.... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Don't worry though, it is an aquired trait and you seem to be doing just fine!

-Regards.
-Mike Z.

 

[Phred]

Rich,

It's even more of a bummer when a big round bale does not come out right. Thats 1200lbs of hay rather than 60 lbs.
The good news is that in comparison a round baler is much more simple in operation and there are just a few things to watch out for, like running out of twine..... /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

Fred

 

[Phred]

If you buy alot you may be able to stop by and take a look at the field and maybe pick out the bales you want.

The folks I sell to sometimes stop by and take a look.
After all if the hay is full of weeds or has other problems it is a lot harder to tell when its all baled up than when its still growing in the field.

Fred

 

[5030]

Phred:

Running out of twine??

That's pretty hard with a rounder. I run 4 20K balls in the twine box. That's enough for about 60 rounds. Besides, at leas a couple of times a day, you do have to get off the tractor and answer the call of nature....a great time to check the twine box too.

 

[Phred]

Daryl,

Your right if you pay a liitle attention its no big deal.

And even if it does run out you can stop, feed in a new ball, start it back up and tie off the bale inside the chamber. This kind of makes the point though that round baling is alot easier than square.

The only pain in the %^& I have found is when the baler moves from one twine ball to another and hangs up and will not feed correctly. It always the first ~20 feet of the ball that causes the problem. Also more of a problem with natural than nylon. Anyone have a preference of twine brand to minimize this problem?

Fred