lifting bales

[coranchin]

Starting a sheep farm have just 10 head right now, but looking to grow much larger. So with increased numbers im planning on going to big bales, what is a good size tractor to use. Nothing to big (I guess smallest possible ) or how do you know if the tractor is big enough

 

[bcp]

The pdf chart below shows round bales from 450lbs to 1700lbs, depending on size.

This site says 500 to 3000lbs.
G1955 Large Round Bales: Management | University of Missouri Extension

I would like 20% or more lift capacity than bale weight, just for safety under less than ideal conditions, such as hitting a pothole while carrying a bale.

A bale mover will let you get by with a smaller tractor, but you can't stack them.

Examples:
THE Slide Lift Bale Mover

Lovett & Tharpe Catalog - DURABILT INDUSTRIES | BALE MOVERS |

Bruce

 

[Trillium Farm]

Sheep farmers over here stay away from big bales. They make a living at it! They even pay premium for small sq. Sheep are finicky.

 

[Farmer495]

What size of big bales are you talking?

Most CUT will handle a 4x4 hay bale.

you need a much bigger tractor for a 5x6 bale....

 

[coranchin]

4x4 , and 1200-1400 rounds.

And wondering why do they stay away from big bales my nieghor sells big and small cut from same field


But I'm looking mostly Craigslist and similar sites for used tractors so is there a good place to look up lift capacity. And I'm looking in the 3k-5k price range

 

[rockinmywaypa]

Huh, I've never fed a small square bale to my sheep ever. was big bales from 89 to 2011, been corn silage and haylage since, chopped and put in pit silo. think about less labour and you'll be able to feed more animals. Now about a tractor, I always liked going with older iron and get bigger for money. 50 to 60 hp tractors with loaders will last many yrs yet and will handle mowers, balers etc. just good all round size for smaller farms.

 

[coranchin]

So a 50-60 hp will work. Sounds good

Looking to do brush hog, tiller, and disc work and the occasional big bale moving
Nothing to crazy no crops really just land prep for grazing

 

[Wagtail]

The hp/size of the tractor are one part of the equation. A robust FEL being another part AND the terrain is the third. Matching the three to the job at hand is the solution.

I have no problem using my 41hp tractor with a 300CX FEL over my relatively flat property. I have assisted a neighbour during haying season, gathering round bales over varying terrain & inclines, again, with no problems.

 

[Creamer]

Depends on how old of tractor you get but if you are talking the $3-5k range you are talking 60s or 70s and some of those did not have the front axles strong enough to be handling 700-800 lbs while driving. For instance JD 3020 and 4020s broke a lot of front axles due to loaders. That pipe with holes in it wasn't very good for carrying a load on it and hitting a hole.

 

[tessiers]

I guess We just had good luck, we handled 20,000 5x5 silage bales with a 4020, never had a bit of trouble, bought a 6403 mid 2000's and we cant keep that thing working (electronics), the 4020 still fills in when the new one is down. I would think about anything over 50 hp would handle smaller dry rounds, I currently do 4x4 dry with a JD 790, or my Massey 135.

 

[joeu235]

Bring a bale with you when you test drive the tractor.

 

[Trillium Farm]

And wondering why do they stay away from big bales my nieghor sells big and small cut from same field

The quality of hay is better in small bales, they also prefer birdsfoot trefoil as the sheep really like it, so they tell me. I don't have sheep so can't speak from personal experience.

 

[Creamer]

How do you feed big bales to sheep? Their necks are not long enough to reach the middle of a bale feeder. Do you unroll them in a bunk? I would think it would be kind of hard to drop loose hay in a bunk. I am thinking grinding would be the best way.

 

[Creamer]

I guess We just had good luck, we handled 20,000 5x5 silage bales with a 4020, never had a bit of trouble, bought a 6403 mid 2000's and we cant keep that thing working (electronics), the 4020 still fills in when the new one is down. I would think about anything over 50 hp would handle smaller dry rounds, I currently do 4x4 dry with a JD 790, or my Massey 135.

Maybe it was just abuse by putting too strong of loaders on an older tractor but I have seen a lot of 4020s with broken front axes. Don't get me wrong, I think the 4020 is one of the best tractors ever built but it was not designed to be a loader tractor. We never had any problem with ours but then we never had a loader on it. The 4230 we put a loader on had a lot more axle under it but many put the same JD158 loader on 4020s. It was a great loader but maybe just too strong for the tractor.

 

[powerscol]

There are numerous ways to handle bales, including rear 3pt spears, to front loader grapples to handle all sizes of large and small, round and square bales.

This is what I have for my small operation. I just got it for this season. I use a small Hesston 4550 inline to bale with using a 26.5 PTO HP Bobcat CT 235 tractor.

 

[Trillium Farm]

I think this is one of the most cost efficient ways to handle small sq on a small medium farm. The only thing that changes is the size of the grapple, I would add a small drag behind accumulator to fit the size of the grapple or vice versa. And you're off to the races!

 

[powerscol]

I think this is one of the most cost efficient ways to handle small sq on a small medium farm. The only thing that changes is the size of the grapple, I would add a small drag behind accumulator to fit the size of the grapple or vice versa. And you're off to the races!

Maybe next year, and Kuhns makes one or can make one to fit the grapple I got from them. I have a slightly modified (extra Hooks) 205 Compact Bale Grabber
Kuhns Mfg LLC | Kuhns Mfg provides a small square hay bale handling solution.

 

[Creamer]

If it were me especially in colorado or one of the western states where it is dryer I would find an old stooker. They set six bales up in a triangular stack that allows you to bale slightly wetter and also will shed some rain so you have more time to get them off the field. You can pick up the "stook" with any four fork system on a loader or 3 pt. We used to pick up two at a time with the 14' wide hay sweep on our loader to put them up on a stack or truck.

Here is a video of one working but it isn't adjusted quite right. They were all mechanical and with six bales they automatically tripped to dump the pile. There is no dragging of the bales like in an accumulator and are very easy to pick up. The setting of the bales at an angle allows air to flow underneath which is why you can bale slightly wetter.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qHpVYKmGhbA

 

[Creamer]

Here is the style of Stooker I worked with.
Agritec Bale Stooker (similar to a bale accumulator) - TCT Classifieds

 

[coranchin]

So what do you go guys think about picking up big bales with a bale spike on a three point setup ]