Unrolling/spreading silage bales rather than hay??

[BobTheSmallholder]

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?

 

[tinsheet]

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

 

[Poorbuthappy]

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.

 

[tinsheet]

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.

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

 

[Poorbuthappy]

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

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.

 

[tinsheet]

Right! Images downloaded winter project sorted, operation fabricate bale unroller

 

[puppet]

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.

 

[Poorbuthappy]

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.

1 of my bugbears is trashing a piece of field every year using a ring feeder. Thanks but I like my unroller.

 

[davidroberts30]

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[Poorbuthappy]

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[davidroberts30]

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Ahhh
A 700 quid bale controller on matbro brackets

 

[BobTheSmallholder]

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

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]

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]

Right! Images downloaded winter project sorted, operation fabricate bale unroller

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]

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?

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]

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.

 

[Woolless]

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]

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??

 

[Smudge]

Anyone used an unroller like this?

Thinking of making something similar.

 

[Nick Adams]

Anyone used an unroller like this?

Thinking of making something similar.

Needs a bigger tractor on the front!!