Automatic sheeps feeding

[bulbius]

Hello everyone! I want to share with you the little experiments I did with hay bales and sheeps. I wanted to find a faster and better way to feed sheeps instead of using the common hay feeders.
I put a welded mesh around the hay bale that let sheeps enter with the head beyond the mesh.
This way I reduced a lot the wasted hay as they are forced to eat all that is inside the mesh.
I would be very glad if you will answer with your opinions, doubts and advices. Thank you!

 

[Dodge777]

can the sheep reach right to the centre of the bale? looks like there might be some left in the middle from the photo.

 

[Paddington]

Horned sheep might have problems, we use hay boxes with small bales and none gets wasted.

 

[Nithsdale]

Is that not just the same as using a ring feeder?

 

[Philip Watkins]

Is that not just the same as using a ring feeder?

Yes but will be a lot cheaper.

 

[Nithsdale]

Yes but will be a lot cheaper.

Aye... but not a new way of feeding

 

[bulbius]

can the sheep reach right to the centre of the bale? looks like there might be some left in the middle from the photo.

After some days I need to open a little the bale with the pitchfork to let the sheeps reach the hay but it's a very little effort compared with that required to put hay on the hay feeders everyday.

After I tried to put the hay bale decentralized inside the mesh, that way it seems that the sheeps can always reach the bale and open it day after day.

 

[bulbius]

Horned sheep might have problems, we use hay boxes with small bales and none gets wasted.

I didn't think about horns because my sheeps do not have it
Anyway don't you need to fill the hay boxes at least one time at day?

 

[bulbius]

Is that not just the same as using a ring feeder?

thank you for the suggestion. I never saw this kind of feeder. I used a similar feeder but as you can see from the picture it wastes a lot of hay because the sheeps pull out it from the feeder.

 

[bulbius]

ah I forgot to add some data: the mesh diameter is about 50 cm more than the hay bale diameter. 3 hay feeder with meshes fed 90 young sheeps for 11 days.

 

[Nithsdale]

thank you for the suggestion. I never saw this kind of feeder. I used a similar feeder but as you can see from the picture it wastes a lot of hay because the sheeps pull out it from the feeder.

Iv never seen one like that in your picture. But I have seen plenty like this - the sheeted bottom helps to reduce waste

Or this, Solway Recycling's plastic version of your weldmesh idea

Both, obviously more costly as your feeder though.

 

[bulbius]

Iv never seen one like that in your picture. But I have seen plenty like this - the sheeted bottom helps to reduce waste

Or this, Solway Recycling's plastic version of your weldmesh idea

Both, obviously more costly as your feeder though.

Thank you for the pictures. very interesting stuff. I decided to use materials that I already own for my trials so yes it's very cheap but I'm planning to build something more professional for the future especially because the meshes I used are very thin and the sheeps can bend them. I also think that the sheeted bottom can be very useful.

I tried different diameters for the meshes and I noticed that if there is a little gap between the bale and the mesh the sheeps are able to pull out the hay and waste it a little. Instead when there is a minimum gap of 20 - 25 cm they put their head beyond the mesh and eat directly inside leaving what they discard always inside the mesh.

 

[Bury the Trash]

Thank you for the pictures. very interesting stuff. I decided to use materials that I already own for my trials so yes it's very cheap but I'm planning to build something more professional for the future especially because the meshes I used are very thin and the sheeps can bend them. I also think that the sheeted bottom can be very useful.

I tried different diameters for the meshes and I noticed that if there is a little gap between the bale and the mesh the sheeps are able to pull out the hay and waste it a little. Instead when there is a minimum gap of 20 - 25 cm they put their head beyond the mesh and eat directly inside leaving what they discard always inside the mesh.

Sheeps are rascals aren't they...

What country are you from @bulbius ?

 

[bulbius]

Sheeps are rascals aren't they...

What country are you from @bulbius ?

You can bet they are!
I'm from Italy, Marche area

 

[bulbius]

what you think about this type of feeding animals, I mean apart from this specific solution, the way of letting animals eat as they want opposed to that of providing a certain daily ration? There may be considerable differences in the animal welfare or growth?

 

[neilo]

what you think about this type of feeding animals, I mean apart from this specific solution, the way of letting animals eat as they want opposed to that of providing a certain daily ration? There may be considerable differences in the animal welfare or growth?

Most sheep in the UK that are fed forage in bales, would have it provided in ring feeders, or behind feed barriers, on an ad-lib basis.

Welcome to the forum. It's always interesting to hear a different perspective on agriculture.

 

[bulbius]

Most sheep in the UK that are fed forage in bales, would have it provided in ring feeders, or behind feed barriers, on an ad-lib basis.

Welcome to the forum. It's always interesting to hear a different perspective on agriculture.

Thank you! I think too.

 

[Al R]

Used to have loads of these when we were all small bales but on circular round feeders now which are ok apart from what they drag out..

These mesh squares have got holes 4"x2" (100mm x 50mm) and then some larger ones (2 on each side) which are around 10" (25cm) square for the ewes to get their heads in.
Worked very well with small bales and clamp!

 

[Man_in_black]

what you think about this type of feeding animals, I mean apart from this specific solution, the way of letting animals eat as they want opposed to that of providing a certain daily ration? There may be considerable differences in the animal welfare or growth?

Yeah we call it ad-lib most people do it, know ewes are feeding and free your time to do other tasks daily.

Welcome to the forum. I personally am always interested in sheep enterprise from other parts of world. And respect to your English language. Can think of at least 7 members on here who could learn some grammar from yourself!

 

[Yale]

This is how we do it with silage.