how much does a bale of hay weigh

Ive come a long way from my suburban upbringing where Im not sure if I could have told you the difference between hay and straw. Grass hay includes Timothy, Orchard, Bermuda, Fescue, and oat. A bale of hay measures 2 feet by 2 feet by 3 feet. So for every 2,000 lbs (ton) of freshly baled hay you buy youre losing 200 lbs when compared to moisture stabilized hay. Two-string square bales, which are the most popular size, have an average size of 14 x 18 x 36. Three-string squares have an average size of 16 x 22 x 44.. Its essential to bale at the correct moisture level during the curing process to maintain nutritional value. Once the bale has gotten small enough to relocate, you can clear the space for the next bale of hay to be dropped off. These bales measure around 16 high x 22 wide x 44 and weigh around 100 lbs. Home --- Raising Animals --- How Much Does a Bale of Hay Weigh [Round vs Square Bales], 10 DIY Goat Shelter Plans + Tips for Building the Best Goat Shelter. Ive always used square bales for my horses, and these are some of the reasons I find them advantageous: I dont use round bales for my horses, but these are some of the reasons horse owners prefer using round bales to feed their horses hay: Hay is an important part of any horses diet, and the weight of a bale can play a role in how much hay a horse can consume in a day. Therefore the moisture level of grass should be lower as the size of the bale increases. Only that way can you estimate how many hay bales will be necessary to feed your animals throughout the cold period and which hay storage area size to provide. The topic of this discussion, however, has been feeding round bales by hand in smaller quantities. In addition, different types of hay weigh more than other types. A first-cutting 3x4x8 alfalfa bale can weigh between 1,100 and 1,400 pounds. First-cut alfalfa is usually lighter than third-cut, and second-cuts fall between those weight ranges. Straight, third-cutting hay can tip the scales at 1,100 pounds if packed correctly with perfect moisture content. A standard two-string square hay bale weighs between 40 and 75 pounds; a three-string square bale weighs over 100 pounds and some as much as 140 pounds; the average round hay bale weighs about 1,250 pounds, but their weight varies greatly from 563 to 1,584 pounds. Hay supply can vary quite a bit state-to-state, too. Source: Canva Large Square Bales For example, in Northern Colorado, alfalfa is more readily available and therefore tends to be a little less expensive than grass hay. The largest balers make bales nearly 8 feet wide by 6 feet in diameter. Square bales are a popular choice as they tend to be more consistent in size and weight. Remember that short-distance transport involves special wagons or trailers. (#betterlatethannever). Missing the weight of a bale by 10 percent amounts to some pretty significant dollars if multiple tons are being purchased. Putting Weight on a Horse: A Healthy and Balanced Approach, 7 Over-the-Counter Meds You Can Give Your Horse. Hay stocks dropped in the USA this year, largely due to increasing production costs and poor rains. He is a retired history teacher, a sportswriter, farmer, woodworker, home builder and is familiar with tilting at windmills in trying to get fruit trees and produce to grow in Wyoming's harsh climate. The amount of square bales that equals a round bale depends on the size of each. The cost per pound of nutrient can be determined with the following equations: a) 2,000 pounds multiplied by percent nutrient on an as-fed basis equals pounds of nutrient per ton, b) Cost per ton of hay divided by pounds of nutrient per ton equals cost per pound of nutrient. Please give better information for making the Drawing Salve. 7 Creative Ways to Lower Your Horse Expenses: The owner of this website, HorseRookie.com, is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking HorseRookie.com Review to Amazon properties including, but not limited to, amazon.com, endless.com, myhabit.com, smallparts.com, or amazonwireless.com. Timothy or orchard grass makes premium grass hay in a large round bale and is considered by many the best grass you can feed livestock, particularly horses. Check with local farms near you to see if they will not only sell you round hay bales, but also be able to deliver them as needed. Round bales, also called rolls of hay, started showing up in fields about 40 years ago. 2023 horseyhooves.com, part of the Hopnetic network. This post may contain affiliate links. You can unsubscribe anytime. Since hay is such a key component of a horses diet, it is important to know what kind is the best option for your horse. A lesser quality round bale will likely cost $65-$80. All Rights Reserved. Even if they are all square, the size will affect the weight. Small square bales have been in use for more than a century. Therefore, later cuttings of hay are typically more desirable. Moisture content can affect bale weight by as much as 25 percent. How Much Does A Bale Of Hay Weigh? Round bales can come in various diameters depending on what size baler was used to make them. Moisture and heat can also result in moldy hay. A trendy two-string rectangular hay bale weighs among forty and 75 pounds; a three-string rectangular bale weighs over 100 pounds, and some as lots as one hundred forty pounds; the average round hay bale weighs about 1,250 pounds, but their weight varies greatly from 563 to 1,584 kilos. Hay is dried and mowed grass, legumes, and other herbaceous plants you can use to feed grazing animals, like: These animals are ruminants, and their digestive system is excellent at processing plant materials. ft if spread at a depth of approximately three inches. Most hay bales stabilize at about 8% to 9% moisture content. I love animals! Being round they are difficult to secure and there have been multiple accidents caused by bales falling from trucks. When buying hay, you need to put your horses needs first, and your wallet second. To determine nutrient content, sample each load or cutting of hay and send it to a reputable lab for testing. A second-cutting 44 is usually about 1,800 pounds and packs in nice tight blocks. How Much Does Round Hay Bale Weigh? The heaviest bales you can purchase are third-cutting 44 bales. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Medium Round Hay Bale Medium-sized round bales are larger and heavier than the smaller ones. Hay bales can weigh from 40 lbs to 2,000 lbs (18 kg to 907 kg). As a veteran hay mover, baler, and enthusiast, Ive heard a lot of questions about how much hay bales weigh in my day. The bale had 20% moisture content. Look for hay that has a sweet smell and avoid anything that smells moldy, musty, fermented, or moist. I would like to make this salve. They eat it up before they are able to trample it and poop all over it. The next size is the three-string bale. I can speak for our area in northern Illinois, which is pretty representative of the midwest. As for the large square bales? Approximately thirty two-string square bales of hay equal one large 5x6 diameter round bale. Small square bales of hay dont have to be the only option on your small farm or homestead! In addition, you need to consider what options you have to move hay, as three-string bales can be too heavy for some people and round bales need machinery to be moved. The big square hay bales come in three varieties; 3x3x8, 3x4x8, and 4x4x8. How Much Does a Three String Hay Bale Weigh? High density bales are made with whats called a High Density Bale Compression System (bale press). The table shows the effect that bale size has on weight by using a 5 5 bale that weighs 1,100 pounds for comparison. Tension, grass density, and alfalfa or clover in the mix significantly affect total weight. depending on operator preference and the equipment being used. In addition, square bales are less likely to develop mold. Timothy and bermudagrass hay are grass hays, while alfalfa is a legume and this hay is richer in protein. However, if youre trying to put weight on a horse, you may want to feed more.If a square bale of hay weighs 48 pounds and your horse weighs 1,000 pounds, your horse should eat the bale in four days. This helps to minimize hay waste. So, I thought Id give you the answers to some of the questions you might be wondering about: On average, a round bale of hay equals between 15 and 20 square bales. Sign up for our FREE newsletter and get weekly homesteading inspiration, guides, and tips straight to your inbox! However, light grass square bales dont stack well with a bale wagon. Everything from grass type to cutting to quality dictates the bales price tag. Holly started riding as a six years old in the UK and competed regularly in local events, including showjumping, cross country, showing, working hunter, and gymkhana. Two string bales were the most common hay bales for many years. You are also able to feed flakes from square bales, which allows you to better control your horses food intake. But here are some other things to look for, or to avoid, when purchasing round hay bales. Also, some balers can compress more tightly than can standard equipment; these types of balers are generally used for baling low-density forages like wheat straw. Easier handling and transportation is the lead cause of the popularity of round bales. Round bales, on the other hand, are usually a fair amount heavier than the two and three-string square bales. How Much Hay to Feed Your Cows In the Winter? Your 2nd and 3rd cutting will yield higher percentages of alfalfa and clover. They are easy to use and dont require any special handling equipment. They are often preferred when the bale is going to be shipped long distances, since their density lowers shipping costs and makes it easier to build a secure load. Although heavier than two string bales, they can be handled by one or two people without special equipment. Your barn setup and the equipment available to handle hay will partially dictate bale size. The Fascinating Science Behind Horse Sweat. 10 Most Common Blue Roan Horse Breeds (With Pictures), How Do Horses Sleep? A 4x4x8 square hay bale weighs between 1,320 and 2,000 lbs. Could a hay feeder be helpful? The high concentration of leaves, with fewer stems, packs a very tight bale. Those numbers are all in feet. All Baler manufacturers. Standard sizes are 5 feet wide and 6 feet in diameter or 4 feet wide and 5 feet in diameter. A standard round bale of hay is going to weigh around 1,000 lbs. Read More How Much Hay Do Cows Need During Cold Winters? Timothy hay will cost you $20 to $22 per bale, depending on the manufacturer. The more compact the bale, the lighter the weight! Hay that is not properly stored can grow mold or even catch on fire, leading to disastrous results. Hay that is good quality will have a green color to it with a fresh, sweet smell. I share more on how I do that coming up. Farmers usually use the grazing pastures benefits as a typical diet for their animals. Formula: document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); How Long Does a Horse Live? The biggest reason is more effortless handling and transport over shorter distances. Especially horses, Ive been around them most of my life but I am always learning more and enjoy sharing with others. Both work, but I tend to prefer the first method. Read Our Hay Goat Guide! He purchased a bale wagon when I headed off to college. Until something becomes an absolute must have on the homestead, we avoid it. Their handling and transport advantages led to them becoming the most popular bales today. Was the field planted in genetically modified pasture seed? Is there still hay left that they didnt eat when the next feeding time comes around? Later on in this article we will discuss the size and weight details of different types and of hay bales. Hay is the largest commodity for feeding livestock, but it can vary in size especially in weight. Any links on this page that lead to products on Amazon are affiliate links and I earn a commission if you make a purchase. The weight of a hay bale is determined by the type of hay (more on that momentarily), the moisture content (hay loses moisture as it ages, so new hay bales weigh more than older ones), and the type of bale. We know that weighing hay bales is a lot of work. For instance, alfalfa hay is typically much heavier than grass hay. Big time! Similarly, some horse owners believe that large round hay bales contain diseases such as botulism, because they associate it with a higher moisture content. Whether round or square, hay bales will be much heavier after accumulating moisture from the atmosphere. The most common sizes of hay you will find are two-string square bales, three-string square bales, and round bales. 3 to 10 ft in. Interestingly, although alfalfa hay is excellent and most popular, timothy hay is still the most expensive. Below is a YouTube video of a bale of hay being weighed. You can use different hay categories to feed your livestock, like: This hay category has low protein, amino acids, and lysine levels but is rich in fiber. Round bales take a long time for horses to eat unless you have a lot of them, and the longer a round bale is exposed to the elements, the greater the chance it molds and ruins. Humidity and water significantly affect how heavy your hay will be. In pounds, they range from 805 to 1,580 pounds. When planning to purchase hay for your animals, in addition to weight, you need to know the hay bale price. This can be especially dangerous if you have chickens or other small animals that can get trapped by a hay avalanche! Forage is cut and then cured. The weight of hay bales can be challenging to determine because many factors, such as its size, moisture level, and density, influence a single hay bales total weight. Keep in mind, hay prices can fluctuate quite considerably depending on a variety of factors. Horses need hay to keep them healthy and strong, price per ton on round bales than square bales. Thanks in advance I really appreciate it! Large Round Hay bale - Large circular hay bale can feed many . The higher the moisture level, the heavier the bale of hay is. Three cuttings per year is pretty typical, however in states like California, with more moderate year-round temperatures, farmers may be able to get five cuttings a year per field. So, knowing what weight to expect from your hay bales can help ensure you have the tools (and muscle) to stack and store them. In such a situation, it is necessary to provide a sufficient hay amount to feed animals in winter. Third-cutting bales can tip or roll a smaller tractor or lift the rear end off the ground if you dont have tractor weights attached. Small square bales typically weigh between 40-60 lbs. Buying your hay in bulk with a round bale offers a discount, but youll still have to transport that round bale, which might cost you extra.

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