Having a good supply of hay feeders for cattle is essential for feeding your animals well and safely. There are a variety of feeders available to suit the needs of different cattle breeds. You may choose a large square baler, a tapered cone hay feeder, or a hay sling. There are also a variety of EZ Clean-Out racks to help you easily clean your hay feeders.
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EZ Clean-Out racks simplify the process of cleaning a hay feeder
Having a hay feeder that is clean and tidy is important to both the livestock and the farmer. A hay feeder that is a tad dirty can lead to a lot of lost productivity. Using the right equipment can make the process easier and faster. The EZ Clean-Out rack is a worthy investment for any cattle feeder owner. It will save you time, money and heartache.
It is no secret that hay is expensive. The cost of feeding cattle is on the rise. The best way to minimize the cost is to feed your cows in a manner that maximizes the efficiency of the hay. For example, using a hay feeder that has small bales makes it possible to keep the hay fresh and in good condition. Keeping the hay in a hay feeder also increases the palatability of the hay, which is of course a plus for the cows.
The best way to feed hay is to keep the large hay bales off the ground. This will minimize the hay losses that result from weather-related spoilage. This is a good thing, because it will keep the hay fresher, longer.
Tapered-cone hay feeders
Using a tapered-cone hay feeder can save you money. It has been proven to reduce wintering costs by 17.6% and increase cow weight gain. It also helps increase output and minimizes waste.
A North Dakota University research project compared three different hay feeding methods, including round bales fed directly on the ground, tapered-cone round bale feeders, and round bales shredded with a power takeoff-driven bale processor. The study was completed in 2007. The results showed that a tapered-cone round bale feeder reduced wintering costs by 17.6% for a reference herd of 300 cows. It increased weight gains by ten percent and decreased estimated hay consumption by 10.2%.
A sensitivity analysis was used to determine the economic feasibility of a more expensive feeder design. The results showed that a tapered-cone feeder could save a farmer over five years about $445 per herd. This is because the less hay is wasted, the lower the production cost will be.
Large square balers
Using large square balers for cattle hay feeders can save farmers two to four times the cost of transporting and handling large round bales. Although not as common in the United States as it is in Europe, the use of square bales is gaining ground in some areas. The initial investment for a large square baler is $60,000 to $100,000.
For smaller tonnage, round balers are usually better suited. While they’re less stable, they can be more easily transported. And because they’re stacked, they are easier to store and protect from rain. But they’re more expensive to manufacture and handle.
Compared to a square bale, a round bale can weigh from 750 to 2,000 pounds. Those are larger than the average size of a square bale, so you’ll need more heavy lifting equipment to carry them.
Round bales can be left outside to dry. In fact, most research has shown that they lose about 20 percent of their volume after being stored for a period of time.
GoBob’s Hay Sling
Whether you are in the market for a new livestock feeder or are trying to get one for a friend, GoBob’s Hay Sling hay feeder for cattle is a good choice. GoBob’s Hay Sling product is designed to keep bales from touching the ground, ensuring that your cattle can access the hay without tearing it up. The product is tested for strength and durability and is also used in GoBob’s Hay Conserver and Hay Monster feeders.
The product is designed to be used with a front loader or tractor, making it easy to move the feeder to the pasture. It can also be hauled with any type of bale bed. In addition, the hay feeder is built with all new prime pipe.
