Cattle feeders (hay)

[T.N.T.]

We tried bale grazing one winter,what a waste of money and feed.What we do is tubgrind a couple big pile and then self feed off the piles with a electric wire and cows are still spreading manure over the field.

[15444]

Where hay is plentiful and cheap, bale grazing is a no-brainer. People who ride the edge on feed supplies, buy all their feed in, or don't have much in terms of snowfall, shouldn't probably do it.

Good quality legume hay here, 1500 lb bale is a hard sell beyond $30 a bale. And 120 inches of snow doesn't lend itself to feeding piles under snow cover, or moving portable tumbleweed fences. Also would love to see what a $700 feeder looks like. We can buy the 1 inch square tube, $200 feeders and after 10 years of use, resell at auction for as much or more than we paid for them. I usually buy them at private estate sales for 1/4 what they are worth new.

[grassfarmer]

I agree with hay at that price bale grazing would easily pencil.
Here is a current ad for hay in AB:

"Price: 8 cents/ lb
267 bales approx 1600 lbs. Alfalfa and grass mix half and half. Put up good with twine. South of Stettler"

That's high admittedly but I can see a lot of hay making 4-6c/lb this year out here.

Here are the feeders I was thinking of - they were well over $600 the last time I bought one and that was several years ago. I like them, they stand up to abuse better than most.
http://hi-hog.com/round-bale-feeders-2/

[15444]

The only abuse I see on feeders is that which comes from the operator using a loader tractor to move them. Have yet to see a mature bull squash a feeder flat, but have seen a few dummies do it.

[grassfarmer]

So do you move them by hand through your deep snow?

[RayTurner]

Kato – Yup. Similar problem here…but only with elk.

T.N.T - I am interested in your concept. How does the electric wire work? And how many cows do you run?

[15444]

GF, yes, I move them by hand every 4 days or so. Actually pretty easy with the 1 inch tubing feeders as they fall through the soft snow and don't bring any snow up with them, so you can just push them along, even in 3' of snow. Also light enough to walk on top of the snow/ice when you get a good crust; me not so much.

[grassfarmer]

You wouldn't need a gym membership if you were hand moving feeders for 500 cows.

[15444]

I wouldn't bale graze 500 cows, nor would I ever have that many. Never be that far in debt to have to need such numbers and have no interest in working hard just to pay the tax man.

[RayTurner]

Who says I am in debt 15444. Don’t assume.