Round bale feed barrier feeder?

[steveR]

I've been looking around at options for a feed system to allow round bales to be fed along the front of a building. Dumping the bale in front of the existing feed barrier is too wasteful and wasted too much space! The problem is that I am restricted with space so cannot come in at 90 degrees to the feed barrier but at a 30-40 degree angle.

A feed bin will struggle to fit, but years ago, I made round bale feed tables that fitted at each end of the sheds, taking two bales at a times, the problem was too much waste

Internet searches have shown a couple of possible solutions and I wondered if anyone has used them?

J Bar 2 in 1 Feeder. https://www.johnshepherdfeeders.com/standard-products-pricelist

An american idea that could be copied by a good blacksmith or farm workshop?
https://www.klenepipe.com/bk-6-fence-line-cattle-hay-feeder/

I like both ideas, as it reduces the amount of fodder that is pulled out.... I think!!

 

[milkloss]

Are they wasting it because you put the bales tight up against the feed barrier? Easy answer would not to put them so close and push them up every now and again so they are always reaching a little distance to get the silage.

 

[steveR]

Are they wasting it because you put the bales tight up against the feed barrier? Easy answer would not to put them so close and push them up every now and again so they are always reaching a little distance to get the silage.

Tried various options over the years, and cattle being cattle, will always pull fodder into the yard! Same with ring feeders really. Yonks ago, I did use a Teagle bale chopper, but after 2 seasons it left with a song on my lips...

I like the idea of the feeder where the stock have to reach a bit, and any spilt falls onto a trough/manger.

 

[steveR]

Found these from an American site that all make good sense.

Bunk Space Per Head Limited feeding (all animals eat at once):
Calves - 18 to 22 inches.
Finishing cattle, 600 pounds to market - 20 to 26 inches.

Free choice feeding (feed kept before animals at all times):
Complete ration or supplement - 3 to 4 inches per head.
Hay - 4 to 6 inches per head.

BUNK DIMENSIONS: Throat height (max.) Calves - 12 to 18 inches. Feeders and slaughter cattle - 22 inches.

Bunk depths 18 to 20 inches. Bunk widths Feed from both sides - 42 to 48 inches. Feed from one side - 24 to 30 inches.

 

[Poorbuthappy]

Quite like the American one in your first post if you want to spend money .
However the single thing that has cut waste feeding sucklers at a single horizontal bar feed barrier here is getting baler man to chop the bales. Has cut waste pulled through the barrier by 80-90%

 

[steveR]

Quite like the American one in your first post if you want to spend money .
However the single thing that has cut waste feeding sucklers at a single horizontal bar feed barrier here is getting baler man to chop the bales. Has cut waste pulled through the barrier by 80-90%

Very valid point I had some chopped haylage a couple of years ago that was very much appreciated by the coos and had little waste. Admittedly, I was making them tidy everything up before more was supplied ;-)

I think the Yank idea could be readily adapted to use some existing feed barriers. But as I am looking for new barriers feeders for a new shed this summer, I may dip a toe in and try one of the John Shepherd feeders... Would prefer galv I have to say mind.

I do not want to have to go into cattle yards to feed in rings anymore though.....

 

[Alternativedairy]

What about a bale feedbout like the Hustler or similar? Still use the same tractor, feed out and could have the option to bed down too if on straw. Suppose it depends on how much you want to spend

 

[steveR]

What about a bale feedbout like the Hustler or similar? Still use the same tractor, feed out and could have the option to bed down too if on straw. Suppose it depends on how much you want to spend

Pondered one, but a big capital spend new... 2nd hand are like Hens Teeth.

£2 grand will allow feed bunkers space to feed all present and likely future cattle numbers. Breakdowns are less of an issue, as a fore-end loader or even a 3 pt will always get the stock fed...

The ability to feed every other day is worth having also..

 

[steveR]

Quite like the American one in your first post if you want to spend money .
However the single thing that has cut waste feeding sucklers at a single horizontal bar feed barrier here is getting baler man to chop the bales. Has cut waste pulled through the barrier by 80-90%

Having some of the crop chopped, but the one operator is a bit whingy about raked rows going into the baler, the other isn't!

What is very obvious is the extra weight in a bale after chopping.

 

[Poorbuthappy]

Having some of the crop chopped, but the one operator is a bit whingy about raked rows going into the baler, the other isn't!

What is very obvious is the extra weight in a bale after chopping.

What's his issue with raking? Stones?
Is it particularly stony ground? What's it raked with?

 

[steveR]

What's his issue with raking? Stones?
Is it particularly stony ground? What's it raked with?

I raked with a 3m single rotor, Kuhn. 3 drags into one and 2 into 1 on heavier crop.

His preference is for grass straight from a big mower conditioner so that he gets no knotting! If it had been Hay Bobbed or horrors, an Acrobat, I could have understood. ;-)

 

[milkloss]

I raked with a 3m single rotor, Kuhn. 3 drags into one and 2 into 1 on heavier crop.

His preference is for grass straight from a big mower conditioner so that he gets no knotting! If it had been Hay Bobbed or horrors, an Acrobat, I could have understood. ;-)

My understanding from our balerman is that parallel raked rows can be uneven (heaped on one side slightly) and won’t feed into a round baler very well for a god bale shape. Our man always wants the rows raked diagonally so that, on average, the rows have an even amount of grass snatched for both sides.

 

[skidless]

I have similar problems with silage waste from round bales but for me the waste is from feeding bales to cattle on an open fronted building , there seems to be quite a bit wasted from the bales being put on a concrete base whether it is down to rain/snow etc , but have tried lifting bales off the floor using pallets but this makes it hard if i have to move some with a fork , just wondered what everyone else does to prevent this.

 

[steveR]

My understanding from our balerman is that parallel raked rows can be uneven (heaped on one side slightly) and won’t feed into a round baler very well for a god bale shape. Our man always wants the rows raked diagonally so that, on average, the rows have an even amount of grass snatched for both sides.

I second pass with the tedder at an angle to the final rowing up, as much to be sure of moving all the grass ;-)

I do most of the baling here myself, but early silage is contractor time.

 

[steveR]

I have similar problems with silage waste from round bales but for me the waste is from feeding bales to cattle on an open fronted building , there seems to be quite a bit wasted from the bales being put on a concrete base whether it is down to rain/snow etc , but have tried lifting bales off the floor using pallets but this makes it hard if i have to move some with a fork , just wondered what everyone else does to prevent this.

IKWYM, and see this when feeding outdoors in a ring. I simply MAKE them eat the ring clean! What I hate is fodder being dragged out and walked on...

 

[Henarar]

I've been looking around at options for a feed system to allow round bales to be fed along the front of a building. Dumping the bale in front of the existing feed barrier is too wasteful and wasted too much space! The problem is that I am restricted with space so cannot come in at 90 degrees to the feed barrier but at a 30-40 degree angle.

A feed bin will struggle to fit, but years ago, I made round bale feed tables that fitted at each end of the sheds, taking two bales at a times, the problem was too much waste

Internet searches have shown a couple of possible solutions and I wondered if anyone has used them?

J Bar 2 in 1 Feeder. https://www.johnshepherdfeeders.com/standard-products-pricelist

An american idea that could be copied by a good blacksmith or farm workshop?
https://www.klenepipe.com/bk-6-fence-line-cattle-hay-feeder/

I like both ideas, as it reduces the amount of fodder that is pulled out.... I think!!

not sure if it would work in your case but we feed along the feed barriers using a bale splitter on the loader the cattle waste hardly anything but our barriers have diagonal bars not vertical ones which helps I think

 

[beefandsleep]

Anyone use a bale table in front of a feed barrier? Sort of sloped so it moves down as they eat? I’ve seen one on a farm while shooting one day but never took a picture, can’t find one on the net.
The guy had it loaded 2 deep with round bale hay and they just rolled down to the barrier.
He probably only had to fill it once a week, lazy mans dream.

 

[steveR]

Anyone use a bale table in front of a feed barrier? Sort of sloped so it moves down as they eat? I’ve seen one on a farm while shooting one day but never took a picture, can’t find one on the net.
The guy had it loaded 2 deep with round bale hay and they just rolled down to the barrier.
He probably only had to fill it once a week, lazy mans dream.

I built one 20 odd years ago, but it never worked properly. Having seen the yank ones I linked to in the OP, I needed more depth/angle and a manger in front to catch the bits and stop the stock getting too close.

Every other dfay feeding is a of course a must!! ;-)

 

[steveR]

not sure if it would work in your case but we feed along the feed barriers using a bale splitter on the loader the cattle waste hardly anything but our barriers have diagonal bars not vertical ones which helps I think

Often wondered if diagonal bars would stop the cows pulling the fodder out so badly. My neighbour uses them, but he is feeding chopped material, so it doesn't count.

 

[49801]

Diagonals supposed to be quite successful. Can’t the top forwards several inches.

Chopped helps a lot!

Personally preferred to not push in right next to barrier so they had to work for it rather than dragging in.