Hay prices continue to rise, prompting livestock managers to search for ways to reduce their hay waste. Round bale feeders offer an effective and economical solution to this problem of reduced hay wastage.
These feeders have been engineered with efficiency in mind, enabling cattle to graze more efficiently while also cutting labor costs. This helps producers minimize input expenses and maximize their output.
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Durability
Round bale feeders are often employed by producers to reduce hay waste and ensure a high hay intake for cattle. However, their durability varies depending on the design.
A study conducted at Oklahoma State University Range Cow Research Center has demonstrated that different round bale feeder designs can affect hay waste, intake and apparent diet digestibility. The experiment compared nine round bale feeder designs and a no-feeder control.
On July and August 2010, 25 mature Quarter Horse and Thoroughbred geldings (mean +- SD; 541 +- 53 kg) were used to evaluate the efficiency of nine round bale feeders. Five groups of five horses each consumed large 1.2 x 1.5 m native tallgrass prairie hay baled using a conventional round baler.
Reversible Design
Cow/calf producers who are facing limited hay supplies and high prices understand the importance of reducing waste to cut back on feed expenses. This necessitates investing in durable equipment which will last for years, thus saving them money on hay purchases.
Round bale feeders for cows can be the ideal solution to this issue. They’re reversible, meaning you can flip it upside down and use it again, saving time and money on replacement parts.
Round bale feeders for cows often feature an s-bar design to prevent young cattle from climbing into the hay feeder and ruining it. This is especially crucial with young calves as their smaller legs may get stuck in gaps in some feeders, leading to serious injury or death.
Other round bale feeders work to minimize waste by keeping the bale suspended within the feeder, making it harder for cattle to push down wet or rotting hay. This reduces rot and allows animals to consume more of what they feed.
Cone Style
If you’re searching for a round bale feeder that will reduce waste and help save money, the cone style is an ideal option. These feeders center the hay bale so cattle eat inside it rather than eating off of the top or throwing it onto the ground.
Dan Buskirk, a beef specialist at Michigan State University, has conducted several studies on round bale feeder designs and discovered dry matter feed loss ranged from 3.5 to 14.6 percent. The cone style (with an integrated hay-saver panel) fared best with just under 3 percent loss while ring feeders lost 6.1 percent.
When selecting a round bale feeder for your farm animals, size is another important factor to take into account. Large cows and horses may find it challenging to eat from a hay rack while smaller calves, goats, and sheep won’t have any issues doing so.
Angled Design
Round bale feeders are designed to prevent hay waste by keeping cows from walking or sleeping on top of the bale. This reduces wasteful consumption of feed, saving both money and time in the process.
These feeders feature an angled design to strengthen the bottom and reduce damage. This also prevents cattle from pushing on top of the hay bunk, which could result in significant damage and reduce its lifespan.
Cradle round bale feeders are designed to fit large 1.8 x 1.5 m (6 x 5 ft) round bales. However, they are heavy and must be repositioned using a tractor and forks.
Tarter offers a selection of slant bar and cradle round bale feeders for cattle that help reduce wastages while boasting a clear coat finish that prevents rust. These products are great to have around the farm as they help minimize waste production.
