Hay Storage

[5030]

Clearspan Truss arch enclosed hoop building, engineered sand floor for drainage and hay on plastic 4 way automotive style pallets stacked to the ceiling, rounds and squares plus all the machinery and a couple cats to handle the mice. Usually a couple thousand squares and at least 200 rounds.

 

[jdtractor]

well im gonna be that bad guy! I would like to tarp my hay but I don't see where its worth it to me. reason? round bales were designed for outside storage no cover period. When I worked out in the north mid west country I asked several farms if they ever stored there round bales inside? They looked at me like I was nuts! Most said that round bales were for outside storage with out a cover. I will have to say I agree..... I bale approximately 400 now 4x5 Plastic twine first cut. I have cut way back on the amount of hay I do now ,used to bale approximately 600 first and 300 second when I was in the cattle business. Not 1 bale ever covered and in my opinion not enough loss to justify all the what I call B S to cover it. I fed on average of 3-6 bales a day then and sold also. I usually was sitting on 1000 bales every year at the start of feeding.... IMO you cant eliminate loss in any hay stored or not there is going to be waste... the animals you are feeding are going to waste it reguardless of square or round. I cant see where you gain anything worth the trouble of covering . I might also add I sell a lot of hay ,have for several years ... and very little if any complaints! just my .02 cts have a good 1

 

[Creamer]

Stored it outside for years unprotected. You lose a lot more than u realize. Decided to try something different. Went with tarps. Lost some on bottom and very little on top to moisture/mold. Significant decrease in rotten hay lying on ground compared to no cover. I had to be very economical about the tie down so I used whatever was laying around( I'm sure no one else has junk laying around the farm). Went with old tires and concrete blocks(cinder blocks). Now use both on bottom, but use blocks to anchor tarp. This also allows me to peel back tarp like a banana without having to remove and reanchor. Tarp stays secure and next roles are easy to access. Tarps are difficult to manage alone(do-able but difficult). Blocks will freeze to ground but easy to move with a bump from FEL, tires no problem. A lot less hay lost I must say, and with good care, tarps finished 6th year and will be used a 7th. Fortunately I have some barn storage, and tarped hay is always fed out first. 250 rolls per year very few squares. Would like to try a tarp barn, but my experience with way I try to cram every bit in to pole barn says I'd probably have a hole in tarp barn real soon. Those who store inside know what I'm talking about. Bought biggest tarp available at that time without going for a custom make and now store 50-60 rolls under each. Can't remember exact size, probably around 30x60.

I had never thought of using old truck tires under the bales. If they did freeze down you wouldn't have to worry about running over them or bumping them.

 

[vsteel]

The issue with round bales is that they can store outside they can lose about 6 inches in spoilage, with a round bale that can be up to a third of the hay. We always try and feed the round bales in the first year.

I guess we are dry enough that we can stack the bales on end and not worry about moisture wicking up into the hay. This is at the family ranch in western South Dakota, about 16 inches average rain fall.

 

[farmer2009]

well im gonna be that bad guy! I would like to tarp my hay but I don't see where its worth it to me. reason? round bales were designed for outside storage no cover period. When I worked out in the north mid west country I asked several farms if they ever stored there round bales inside? They looked at me like I was nuts! Most said that round bales were for outside storage with out a cover. I will have to say I agree..... I bale approximately 400 now 4x5 Plastic twine first cut. I have cut way back on the amount of hay I do now ,used to bale approximately 600 first and 300 second when I was in the cattle business. Not 1 bale ever covered and in my opinion not enough loss to justify all the what I call B S to cover it. I fed on average of 3-6 bales a day then and sold also. I usually was sitting on 1000 bales every year at the start of feeding.... IMO you cant eliminate loss in any hay stored or not there is going to be waste... the animals you are feeding are going to waste it reguardless of square or round. I cant see where you gain anything worth the trouble of covering . I might also add I sell a lot of hay ,have for several years ... and very little if any complaints! just my .02 cts have a good 1

Good for you.

What sold me was I fed some hay this year that spent 3 winters under roof on concrete. Those bales squatted but they were 6inches taller than this years hay that has sat outside.

Although I'll say this. I'll walk from a hay purchase over plastic twine. Sisal twine or net wrap only here.

 

[jdtractor]

Well that's your opinion and your to welcome to it. I didn't like plastic twine either when I was feeding a lot , but I will take it now, loads better when I sell. Also cheaper when I buy. I have had no complaints. As far as the hay squatting that's never been an issue. I bale tight and full bales. The first was Vermeer and now John Deere. Both good balers IMO although I prefer John Deere with a monitor to control the core tightness which I make tight, You can say what you want but if the hay is baled tight you get very little loss or squatting IMO. Ive been baling hay longer then I care to admit, and I will continue to I hope for a while.Reguardless with my experience I wont be covering it.

 

[Jerry/MT]

4x5 twine tied round bales.

I'd stack 'em like I said in my post. One vertical and one horizontal. It takes up less space and the bottom bale stays pretty dry and the top bale sheds water.

 

[ultrarunner]

My dairy farmer friends in Europe all do the round bales where before the hay was stored in the loft above the stable.

The round bales that are stored in the field are wrapped individually...

No idea if this is because it rains a lot there or not?

 

[Creamer]

Dairy farmers around here usually wrap it wet as they like to feed as much moisture as they can. It is just easier to handle in the form of bales than haylage.

 

[ultrarunner]

Thanks for the explanation...