Unrolling/spreading silage bales rather than hay??

BobTheSmallholder

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Angus
Someone I know has a herd of about 20 native breeds (angus/shorthorn/Lincoln red?) that they would really like to keep out on pasture all winter this year and begin mob/rotational grazing with.

They don't have a huge stockpile of grass but there is definitely a decent amount on the ground, utilising it would mean fencing off boundary strips and funny dips in the ground etc as that's where there is knee-waist high forage growing.

I was talking about unrolling bales of hay to feed and rejuvenate pastures over the winter until they pointed out that all of their bales are silage... so can you just unroll bales of silage in the same way as you do hay? Does it work the same way?

Failing that they do have a cool feeder wagon which is essentially a trailer with feed barriers around it so we could try moving that around a few times a day to keep the animal impact moving and avoid muddy spots...

What do you think?
 

Poorbuthappy

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Devon
Dont know what the ground's like but wouldnt want to be driving about on it pulling a trailer all winter.

Have started with my bale unroller here this year but not tried silage yet so afraid I can't comment, apart from to say (As tinsheet) a good dry bale that's held it's shape shouldn't be an issue.
20190925_182001.jpg
 

tinsheet

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
West Somerset
Dont know what the ground's like but wouldnt want to be driving about on it pulling a trailer all winter.

Have started with my bale unroller here this year but not tried silage yet so afraid I can't comment, apart from to say (As tinsheet) a good dry bale that's held it's shape shouldn't be an issue.
View attachment 836952
Do you think you could feed half a bale then lift up put a rachet strap a round the bale, ie only feeding half a bale a day or feeding 2 different mobs? @Poorbuthappy
I have plans:unsure:
 

Poorbuthappy

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Devon
Do you think you could feed half a bale then lift up put a rachet strap a round the bale, ie only feeding half a bale a day or feeding 2 different mobs? @Poorbuthappy
I have plans:unsure:
That's exactly what I do. Though I just use some bale cord around it. You can lose a few wisps if travelling far, but if just going to the next field I don't even bother with the cord.
 

puppet

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
sw scotland
Get a ring feeder then the silage is clean and utilised properly. You will have a muddy area but they won't be tramping it in as they eat.
One of my bugbears seeing good forage used as outdoor bedding.
 

BobTheSmallholder

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Angus
The dryer the silage the better it unrolls, wet silage just falls to bits,
Another factor is it it's chopped or not?
That's my limited experience of unrolling silage (y)

Its not chopped so hopefully will unroll ok. As I said there is a trailer with feed barriers that can be moved around so will likely try moving that around and unrolling a few and see what works best.
 

BobTheSmallholder

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Angus
Get a ring feeder then the silage is clean and utilised properly. You will have a muddy area but they won't be tramping it in as they eat.
One of my bugbears seeing good forage used as outdoor bedding.

The whole point is to avoid trashing the ground and to help boost fertility in the spring by spreading around manure and seeds etc from the grass.

Very heavy clay ground so just touching it smooshes it everywhere!
 

Poorbuthappy

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Devon
Right! Images downloaded;) winter project sorted, operation fabricate bale unroller(y)
I would recommend making a slightly bigger frame to give a little more clearance on the bale diameter. With unrolling the bale backwards you get a bit flapping about which catches in the frame. Not a big deal but if doing it again that's what I'd change.
Presume you've seen the other pics I've posted elsewhere?
 

tinsheet

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
West Somerset
I would recommend making a slightly bigger frame to give a little more clearance on the bale diameter. With unrolling the bale backwards you get a bit flapping about which catches in the frame. Not a big deal but if doing it again that's what I'd change.
Presume you've seen the other pics I've posted elsewhere?
:ROFLMAO: That's the ones I've downloaded,
Currently carry a big square (quadrant) on its edge in the quad bike trailer with the backdoor/ramp held just off The ground with rope, feed down slopes leave the bike in first let gravity take it away and I fork hay out the back, found bale unroller is then next obvious step.
 

Poorbuthappy

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Devon
:ROFLMAO: That's the ones I've downloaded,
Currently carry a big square (quadrant) on its edge in the quad bike trailer with the backdoor/ramp held just off The ground with rope, feed down slopes leave the bike in first let gravity take it away and I fork hay out the back, found bale unroller is then next obvious step.
Yep, I used to do similar.
 
Google :Greg Judy bale unroller:. There are some vids on YouTube and a section on his own website.

I would be rolling bales out if I was at home every day. As it is, I work away midweek so bales need to go in ring feeders to keep the sheep going while I'm not about.
 

Poorbuthappy

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Devon
Google :Greg Judy bale unroller:. There are some vids on YouTube and a section on his own website.

I would be rolling bales out if I was at home every day. As it is, I work away midweek so bales need to go in ring feeders to keep the sheep going while I'm not about.
Where do you think I got the idea for mine??
 

SFI - What % were you taking out of production?

  • 0 %

    Votes: 79 42.9%
  • Up to 25%

    Votes: 63 34.2%
  • 25-50%

    Votes: 30 16.3%
  • 50-75%

    Votes: 3 1.6%
  • 75-100%

    Votes: 3 1.6%
  • 100% I’ve had enough of farming!

    Votes: 6 3.3%

Red Tractor drops launch of green farming scheme amid anger from farmers

  • 1,287
  • 1
As reported in Independent


quote: “Red Tractor has confirmed it is dropping plans to launch its green farming assurance standard in April“

read the TFF thread here: https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/gfc-was-to-go-ahead-now-not-going-ahead.405234/
Top