Weight of a round bale?

Alan K · Jan 19, 2019

Does anyone know the approximate weight of a grass round bale in a 3 foot by 5 foot bale or a 4 foot by 5 foot?

kcm.MN · Jan 19, 2019

Here's a nice file that will help estimate the weight of bales:
https://beeffax.tamu.edu/files/2013/09/2012-Bale-weight-how-important-is-it-Banta-E-319-.pdf

SVcummins · Jan 19, 2019

I could get 1100 pounds in a 4 foot wide 5 foot tall bale in grass hay with a John Deere 435

kyhayman · Jan 19, 2019

I've heard a lot of weights over the years, from back in the 1980's when my new holland dealer who sold me my third chain baler told me the bales would weigh 1100 pounds right up to people who swear its got to weight ....

What I know, first person, for fact, as an interstate hay shipper is 700 on the low end to 900 on the high end depending on bulk density settings of the belts, type of hay, and baler settings gets every load of 4x5's I've put on a semi as an average weight going across the scales. From my own production, this is timothy orchard mix, 840 average, belt pressure set at 1400 psi on the baler meter, belts cut and sized annually by NH dealer on a 4x5 netwrap out of a 450 NH baler, 3 years old. Looking at the link above, this is right on the money. Based on feed out of those same bales to my cows, compared to 5x5 rolls I purchased the feed out is right at 135% which puts them at 1147. I don't scale 5x5s as I wont haul them (strictly purchase, delivered, from local sources).

danofarming · Jan 19, 2019

4x5 800 pounds

JD Seller · Jan 19, 2019

I would say a good 4x5 grass round bale would be close to that 1000 lbs. Clover/alfalfa would get up to the 1200-1300 range. It all depends on the baler and the operator. I have hauled 4x5 bales that would not weight 700 lbs.

rrlund · Jan 19, 2019

A LOT of difference in balers. My Gehl 4x5s are supposed to weight 1200 pounds according to the advertising from the time,but in all actuality,they'll average about 900 on the scales.

JD Farmer · Jan 19, 2019

Have John Deere 459 4x5 baler. Best I have seen was 800# after dry down inside a barn. Also seen as low as 700# for the same set up. Grass hay.

David G · Jan 19, 2019

I should go measure mine, they come out about 1800 - 2000.

Traditional Farmer · Jan 19, 2019

Scale weight and estimated weight is a lot different many times(LOL)

showcrop · Jan 19, 2019

A few years ago young fella Old was putting them at I believe 1800lbs. IIRC he had some arrangement of how well his Ford tractor picked them up compared to how it would pick up an old Ford Ranger with no engine.

David G · Jan 19, 2019

It is a load for my 6610

Destroked 450 · Jan 19, 2019

With my NH 4x5 baler, fescue, orchard grass, clover mix, bales average around 800 lbs off the field, around 700 lbs when feed during winter months.

Interesting read in that link, wonder what kind of hay they are estimating will make 11,000 lbs or 12.6 4x5 rolls per acre.
I got 10 rolls per one time, normally see 7-8 4x5 rolls per so 5500 to 6500 lbs per.
Also according to their feed chart I'm way over feeding my cows, but I figure feeding and spoilage lossage a good bit higher.

old · Jan 19, 2019

But I was also doing 6X6 bales out of a NH850 chain baler which are a whole lot heavier hen a 4X5 bale. I've had people buy a bale of hay from me and then tell me they like the hay but there 1/2 ton pickup did not handle them well so they do not buy from me again. With out having the back blade on the 3 point plus 6 85LBs suit case weights on the blade and tires filled with fluid I can not pick them up and then move because one or both tire will spin

Bruce from Can. · Jan 19, 2019

All depends on the moisture level of the hay, and the density of the bale. It is like asking, how long is a rope?

Hay hay hay · Jan 19, 2019

Go down to the local coffee shop. Those guys put up the heaviest bales in the county.

PJH · Jan 19, 2019

I have a NH 848 chain baler. I ran four bales across the local quarry scale and they weighed exactly 600 lbs each, right out of the field. Grass hay. I don't know how they class that baler for size, but I think it makes a four feet wide bale, and they appear to stand five feet high. I've never had a need to measure a bale from it.

Tx Jim · Jan 20, 2019

(quoted from post at 18:18:59 01/19/19) I could get 1100 pounds in a 4 foot wide 5 foot tall bale in grass hay with a John Deere 435

I'm curious what the moisture content is of these 4X5 grass bales that weigh 1100#s. I'll bet moisture content of grass had to be well over 20%. I've baled many 4X5 grass bales with a JD 435 at maximum hyd pressure that didn't weight much over 1000#s

Tx Jim · Jan 20, 2019

(quoted from post at 20:39:35 01/19/19) All depends on the moisture level of the hay, and the density of the bale. It is like asking, how long is a rope?

DITTO!! there''s too many variables to accurately give an average weight of a rd bale of hay.

showcrop · Jan 20, 2019

(quoted from post at 18:39:35 01/19/19) All depends on the moisture level of the hay, and the density of the bale. It is like asking, how long is a rope?

I'll bet that AlanK can read this thread and decide if for his purposes, that he is the only one who knows, whether or not the weight of the two sizes of round bales given are useful to him.

Andy Martin · Jan 20, 2019

(quoted from post at 16:18:59 01/19/19) I could get 1100 pounds in a 4 foot wide 5 foot tall bale in grass hay with a John Deere 435

Could get but usually didn't?

I've always been surprised when my bales got on a scale. I'm using 5x6 (really 5x5.5 or so).

Texasmark1 · Jan 20, 2019

Excellent info. Based on my SWAGS, I think their data is right on. Thanks for the listing. This chart is perfect when talking to a customer about what I
have and what others have in an attempt to see how to satisfy one's needs. In today's $100 per bale, you transport market, makes a lot of difference
which $100 ad one answers.......when one can be choosy. Not much of that right now.

Tx Jim · Jan 20, 2019

(quoted from post at 20:36:53 01/19/19) But I was also doing 6X6 bales out of a NH850 chain baler which are a whole lot heavier hen a 4X5 bale. With out having the back blade on the 3 point plus 6 85LBs suit case weights on the blade and tires filled with fluid I can not pick them up and then move because one or both tire will spin

NH 850 made an advertised size bale of 5.5'X5.5' bale not 6'X6'. Do you have dedicated bale spears/forks or spears/forks mounted on the bucket?

Alan K · Jan 21, 2019

I want to make sure I can handle a smaller bale with my loader lol...and not break anything.

Weight of a round bale?

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