Reducing hay wastage

Mtjohnso · Apr 8, 2020

I feed my 2 cows out of a feeder rack that I built. I use 2x4 set at an angle to try to encourage them to keep their head inside the feeder rack. They like to pull the hay out on the ground and eat it there. Of course they don?t eat it all.
This feeder rack is attached to the side of the barn inside a loafing shed.
Does grinding hay up reduce wastage?
What have you done to reduce wastage?

rustred · Apr 8, 2020

the joys of having cows. that is just what they do is waste hay from feeders. I have seen people grind it and spread it thinly on the snow that appeared to be more of a cleanup by the cows. but just letting them free feed is a waste. I have taken and moved the bale feeder out in a clean spot in the snow and they just make the same mess then lay in the hay on the ground. with the small square bales a person can just give them so much then they don't waste it. plus they are more hungry.

Traditional Farmer · Apr 8, 2020

I take the bales out in the fields and let the cows eat them there,what they don't eat is turned into fertilizer,no hauling manure either.The left over hay plus the manure on it makes great mulch in the garden too.

Willow Lane · Apr 8, 2020

We had the same idea, we went to grinding this winter in an effort to reduce wastage. It worked, sort of. Waste is definitely down, but they seem to like it better, so they eat more. So for the cost of a new grinder, using a bigger tractor for feeding and more time and fuel used for grinding, we're not saving any feed, but the cows are happy and look good. Oh well, you can't win every time.

Bruce from Can. · Apr 8, 2020

To minimize feed waste you can?t allow free choice continuous access to feed. Cows in our tie stall dairy barn waste very little feed, almost nothing really. The only downside is of course, we have to feed them several time?s each day. And understand that is a non starter for beef cows running in loose confinement set up. Our cows are fed four meals each day, and they are ready to eat each time, but never fed much more than they can consume with in one hour. Then they will lay down with a full gullet, and ruminate ..

LonM · Apr 8, 2020

Limit feeding to just what they'll clean up every day works pretty good. Grinding it, and then mixing it with silage reduces waste too, but as stated, there is more expense with grinding and mixing.

Lon

larbear · Apr 8, 2020

I think that it is a good idea to have a feeder where cows can eat with their head inside or over the feeder. What comes out the side of their mouth, hay I'm talking of, will fall inside the feeder where they won't be apt to stand on it.

newhollandnut · Apr 8, 2020

This may not be an option but I started feeding on pad made of #53 stone then capped off with a few inches of lime and clean it off with the loader often. There is still waste but not nearly as much. Guess I should not it?s round bales set in bale rings

newhollandnut · Apr 8, 2020

This may not be an option but I started feeding on pad made of #53 stone then capped off with a few inches of lime and clean it off with the loader often. There is still waste but not nearly as much. Guess I should note it?s round bales set in bale rings

rrman61 · Apr 8, 2020

Made some racks for 2 old wagons I had out of 2 7/8 pipe.could put 3 round bales on each wagon.I used a length of chain to connect the rear of the first one to the tongue of the second so when I stopped it would just go slack and leave a space between the two.you can change location as often as needed due to mud and mess.the beauty of this was I would go to get the wagons from the day before,load them and park them wherever I wanted to feed and only had to open and close the gate twice

rrman61 · Apr 8, 2020

Made some racks for 2 old wagons I had out of 2 7/8 pipe.could put 3 round bales on each wagon.I used a length of chain to connect the rear of the first one to the tongue of the second so when I stopped it would just go slack and leave a space between the two.you can change location as often as needed due to mud and mess.the beauty of this was I would go to get the wagons from the day before,load them and park them wherever I wanted to feed and only had to open and close the gate twice.and waste and mess was way less than hay rings

MJMJ · Apr 8, 2020

Doesn t need to be complicated. They prefer to eat with their heads down. Make a simple feeder with the hay at ground level. They ll pick their heads up with a mouthful, what falls out falls back in the feeder.
Right now they re reaching up for a mouthful, then backing out and they hay falls in the mud.

Reducing hay wastage

Mtjohnso

Member

rustred

Well-known Member

Traditional Farmer

Well-known Member

Willow Lane

Member

Bruce from Can.

Well-known Member

LonM

Member

larbear

Member

newhollandnut

Member

newhollandnut

Member

rrman61

Well-known Member

rrman61

Well-known Member

MJMJ

Well-known Member

Similar threads