Round or square

hoosierhog · Jul 13, 2012

I"ve been baling small squares but my body does not agree
with it any more. I"m only feeding our family cow and her calf.
But was thinking about going to a round baler. I"m just worried
that I"ll wast to much hay with 1 cow to justify a round baler.
Also i need more barn space and I was think of stacking round
bales on railroad ties an covering with a hay tarp. Any opinions
and or suggestions.

Anonymous-0 · Jul 13, 2012

Seriously only one cow??? I'd let someone else do the hay and just give me what I needed. Enjoy the old age a little more...
You'll wonder why you ever looked at one of them little square bales after you get that roundbale feeding routine going... How could it be a waste? Just set up a feeder that she can't get into (except her head to eat) and enjoy. If she's messy, throw a net over the hay (works for horses anyway).
Or maybe do the hay and have someone roll it for you?

Philt · Jul 13, 2012

As long as you have equipment to handle round bales (loader or skid steer) I would switch. We hire someone to round bale our hay at $7 bale which would take a long time to pay for a round baler not to mention extra time and repairs.

Ken Macfarlane · Jul 13, 2012

I can't imagine the economics would be worth it, for one cow, is that about 200 square bales, so 10 round bales?
Could you hire help for an hour or 2 to put your squares up for you?

DeltaRed · Jul 13, 2012

I have a (small)female customer that wants 40lb bales that she can handle.I always make her some.Maybe you can do the same...

jackinok · Jul 13, 2012

round bales are great if youve got the equipment to handle them,if not i doubt most of us here would live long enough for one cow to make it economicly feasable. i agree with the others,lighter bales.if youve got the room fences and rotational grazing will go a long way to cutting down on your over all hay needs. it must be universal for folks to get attatched to one old cow. I fed one here till she finaly died of old age.

rrlund · Jul 13, 2012

Just get a 4x4 baler. They'll be light enough to unroll and feed a little at a time. We used to feed 4x5s in the stanchion barn all the time. Just unrolled them down the feed alley and pushed it in with a fork.

I don't recomand stacking them outside though unless you can make darned sure that whatever you have over them won't blow off or leak. Thirty one years of round baling experience tells me you're usually better off if they aren't stacked and covered if you have to leave them outside. Remember,whatever you put over them is going to trap moisture as well as keep rain and snow off. If they sweat,the plastic or tarp will keep the moisture right in there with them.

old · Jul 13, 2012

Just for one cow hard to justify $1000 plus for a round baler unless you plan to sell some hay also to off set the cost of it and baling. That is what I do I use about half the hay I do and sell the rest and most years that is enough to pretty much have free hay for my animals

kyplowboy · Jul 13, 2012

One cow and calf?

If there is any one at all around you that will sell round bales you would be much better off graze'n what you have been cutting and buy 6 round bales a year. Less fertilizer, less equipment, and one afternoon with a 16' trailer will have all your hay make'n done for the summer. A tarp or those big trash bags look'n things will save alot of hay.

Good luck!

Dave

RodinNS · Jul 13, 2012

I would think that for the sake of a few hundred bales you could find a victim for the day to handle the hay for you. Rounds are almost a nuisance to deal with for 1 cow. It can be done but I find squares are easier for that rather than fighting a round able around manually or getting a tractor running to handle it...

Rod

Round or square

hoosierhog

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Anonymous-0

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Philt

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Ken Macfarlane

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DeltaRed

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jackinok

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rrlund

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old

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kyplowboy

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RodinNS

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