Clamp v big bale silage cost

[Jackov Altraids]

Agree, it's what suits you. But new clamps already need a drain and storage tank don't they? But bales still OK without

I'm afraid I don't know and I don't think asking the EA about anything is advisable.

 

[Bossfarmer]

Wagon is £110 to £140 plus diesel. Lift 100 acres in 2 days at 4 acres an hour first cut depending on size of wagon. One tractor buckraking(ourselves) and maybe some extra rolling.
One man to phone and if weather changes just one call to rearrange. In good going half the cost of a silage team if our time is counted as 'free'.
As stated above second cut on top to cows, lower half to youngstock.
We feed with a grab to nearest sheds 20m away and trailers to other sheds 400m away. Seem to clean it upView attachment 1003664View attachment 1003665

Interesting although we tend to get about 15 bales to the acre first cut over 230 acres, lot of bulk to haul back with a wagon before it goes off, lot of fields are a mile or so up old bumpy tracks from the steading, other than this i dont mind the idea of these wagons

 

[davidroberts30]

Interesting although we tend to get about 15 bales to the acre first cut over 230 acres, lot of bulk to haul back with a wagon before it goes off, lot of fields are a mile or so up old bumpy tracks from the steading, other than this i dont mind the idea of these wagons

that would be approximately 1 load to the acre
thats not wagon silage

wagon should be 7 bale crop

 

[Bossfarmer]

that would be approximately 1 load to the acre
thats not wagon silage

wagon should be 7 bale crop

If its not wagon silage what is it? I wouldnt cut it short enough to be 7 bale an acre the sucklers would get too fat on it, fine for young stock tho

 

[davidroberts30]

If its not wagon silage what is it? I wouldnt cut it short enough to be 7 bale an acre the sucklers would get too fat on it, fine for young stock tho

everyone down here thinks a wagon can replace a forager team
wagons were designed for quality not quantity

 

[d williams]

Interesting although we tend to get about 15 bales to the acre first cut over 230 acres, lot of bulk to haul back with a wagon before it goes off, lot of fields are a mile or so up old bumpy tracks from the steading, other than this i dont mind the idea of these wagons

You may need a new baler

 

[Bossfarmer]

You may need a new baler

Why?

 

[Bald n Grumpy]

Why?

15 bales an acre is a very good crop or maybe not much in the bales hence the suggestion I would think

 

[d williams]

Why?

How heavy are the bales ??

 

[hally]

Pretty extreme crop 15 bales per acre with a fusion

 

[Agrivator]

Pretty extreme crop 15 bales per acre with a fusion

Maybe there is a mix up between acres and hectares.

Or it might be coppice willow.

 

[DrDunc]

Interesting although we tend to get about 15 bales to the acre first cut over 230 acres, lot of bulk to haul back with a wagon before it goes off, lot of fields are a mile or so up old bumpy tracks from the steading, other than this i dont mind the idea of these wagons

Fields never grazed, first cut in July, density screwed right slack, and no knives in the baler?

I couldn't even get 15 to the acre in the days of baling with a Greenland fixed chamber!





HOWEVER, this does highlight the big issue with comparing costs: For accurate comparisons, you need to factor into the calculations the weight per acre of dry matter harvested, and what feed value that dry matter contains.

I've a couple of fields of high sugar grass that's for multiple cuts. Bales are for later pregnancy / lactating cattle and ewes, and youngstock.

Then there's old fashioned cocksfoot / Timothy / diploid ryegrass fields for single cut feed the dry cows and hay for sheep midwinter.

And then there's ryegrass/clover mix fields that are alternated between grazing and giving a couple of cuts of middle quality forage.

But then there's the cuts of rocket fuel from the first year reseeds......

All stacked separately at the yard, varying between 400kg bales of 80% dry matter 9.5MJ/kgDM ME, to 1000+kg of 35% dry matter 11.5MJ/kgDM ME

Plastic £2.50 per bale, machinery depreciation £4 per bale (for 3 years hire purchase, then simply diesel and maintaince for 15 years or so expected before replacement)

Bugger going to the expense of paying a contractor, never mind building a pit from which you can pick and choose the bit that contains the forage needed for the different animal feed requirements!

What was the question again?

 

[Bossfarmer]

15 bales an acre is a very good crop or maybe not much in the bales hence the suggestion I would think

we put plenty i them never weighed them but that baler packs them tight, we keep our silage ground reseededand rotated with barley, big grass yields

 

[Bossfarmer]

Fields never grazed, first cut in July, density screwed right slack, and no knives in the baler?

I couldn't even get 15 to the acre in the days of baling with a Greenland fixed chamber!





HOWEVER, this does highlight the big issue with comparing costs: For accurate comparisons, you need to factor into the calculations the weight per acre of dry matter harvested, and what feed value that dry matter contains.

I've a couple of fields of high sugar grass that's for multiple cuts. Bales are for later pregnancy / lactating cattle and ewes, and youngstock.

Then there's old fashioned cocksfoot / Timothy / diploid ryegrass fields for single cut feed the dry cows and hay for sheep midwinter.

And then there's ryegrass/clover mix fields that are alternated between grazing and giving a couple of cuts of middle quality forage.

But then there's the cuts of rocket fuel from the first year reseeds......

All stacked separately at the yard, varying between 400kg bales of 80% dry matter 9.5MJ/kgDM ME, to 1000+kg of 35% dry matter 11.5MJ/kgDM ME

Plastic £2.50 per bale, machinery depreciation £4 per bale (for 3 years hire purchase, then simply diesel and maintaince for 15 years or so expected before replacement)

Bugger going to the expense of paying a contractor, never mind building a pit from which you can pick and choose the bit that contains the forage needed for the different animal feed requirements!

What was the question again?

we start first cut in 3rd week of june normally takes a week or so weather permitting to cut/bale/wrap, 2 weeks to stack

 

[Bossfarmer]

Maybe there is a mix up between acres and hectares.

Or it might be coppice willow.

no mix up just big crops 60 acre of its first year reseed each year

 

[DrDunc]

we start first cut in 3rd week of june normally takes a week or so weather permitting to cut/bale/wrap, 2 weeks to stack

How much bagged fizz and coo shyte???!!!!

I've too many sheep eating mine through the winter on my few acres to be cutting much around Highland show time

Surprised you don't weigh the bales and know at least the dry matter content though? Difficult doing bales production costings without knowing surely?

Anyhoo, winters Saturday night, time off for us peasant farmers

 

[d williams]

we put plenty i them never weighed them but that baler packs them tight, we keep our silage ground reseededand rotated with barley, big grass yields

Why are you going to the expense of new ryegrass lays then not cutting at optimum quality and having multi cut instead of a monster cut ??

 

[Jackov Altraids]

we start first cut in 3rd week of june normally takes a week or so weather permitting to cut/bale/wrap, 2 weeks to stack

So it takes 3-4 weeks when it would be clamped in 2-3 days?

 

[Bald n Grumpy]

Isn't it more about man and machine hours not days or weeks?
Everything is quicker with more machines and drivers

 

[Jackov Altraids]

Isn't it more about man and machine hours not days or weeks?
Everything is quicker with more machines and drivers

That is certainly how I see it, doing most of the work myself.

I was just teasing 'The Boss' a bit, but it is a valid point which yet again comes down to personal circumstance as to whether it is significant for your business.