Square Hay Bale Weights and Sizes – Square hay bales come in two major size groups, small and large, Small square bales have been around the longest, over 100 years. They are popular with horse owners, small animal breeders, landscapers, and anywhere that manual handling is required or where only smaller quantities of hay are needed.

How much does a hay bale weigh in kg?

How much does a section of hay weigh? – Advice | Pavo The Pavo GroomingTeam receives a lot of questions about the correct feed composition. Many horse owners don’t know exactly how much energy and protein their roughage contains and how much they give to their horse.

It is very important to know the weight and moisture content of your roughage. Advice is always based on the dry matter content of the roughage. Haylage contains more water, so you have to feed more of that than hay. If you want to find out how much you feed your horse, stand on the scales with a bale of hay.

An average bale of hay weighs 15 to 18 kg. When you have completed the FeedingGuide and the resulting advice is 6 kg of hay, then you know that you have to feed 1/3 of a bale. Be aware that the FeedingGuide calculates an advice based on your input. If your horse goes in the field during the day and also has a straw bed, then the calculation takes that into account. : How much does a section of hay weigh? – Advice | Pavo

How much does a normal bale of hay weigh?

Any links on this page that lead to products on Amazon are affiliate links and I earn a commission if you make a purchase. Thanks in advance – I really appreciate it! My friends and I went to the feed store because we heard there was a good deal on alfalfa hay bales. 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.

This article is one of a series of articles on horse hay I wrote, the main article being: Horse Hay: An Owner’s Guide,

How much does a 2 string bale of hay weigh?

What are the Dimensions of Two-String Hay Bales? – Two-string bales are more common than three-string. These hay bales usually measure around 14″ high x 18″ wide x 35″ long and weigh 50-60 lbs. If fed twice a day, two-string small square hay bales with these dimensions are expected to feed one horse for a week.

How heavy is a large round bale of hay?

Round Bales

What size is a large hay bale?

Round balers – “Large round bale packaging systems allow one person to harvest and store large quantities of hay,” says John Slocombe, Ph.D., Kansas State University. “However, a large round baler requires specific management practices to maintain hay quality and minimize loss during harvest, transportation and storage. “For safety reasons, the most important consideration when matching a tractor to a round baler is tractor size, not horsepower. The gross weight of the tractor must be greater than that of the gross weight of the fully loaded baler. This weighting scheme allows the tractor to maintain control of the baler even when operating on slopes.” Cost per hour ($/hour) to operate a round baler is about the same whether the baler is operated at 60 percent of design capacity (ton/hour throughput) or 90 percent.

Cost per bale is calculated as: Baling cost ($/ton) = Cost to operate ($/hour) ÷ Throughput (ton/hour) There are cost advantages in operating a baler at maximum design capacity; however, other factors need to be considered. Operators must learn not to drive too fast along a heavy windrow. If a baler becomes jammed, it may take 30 minutes or longer to correct this problem.

Most balers are equipped with a slip clutch on the pickup mechanism. As the slip clutch is engaged due to overloading, the operator can hear the noise and knows to slow down forward progress. Most operators need to keep the baler operating at 90 percent of design capacity to obtain maximum efficiency. The bale is then wrapped, tied and ejected. These bales tend to have a soft core. Internal working parts of the fixed chamber are normally belts, chains, rollers or drums. “In a variable chamber, flat belts or chains with slats contain the bale from its initial formation until completion, and can make a bale with uniform density.

1. Some round baler models have twin bale chambers.
2. In one chamber, formation of a new bale begins while a bale is being wrapped, tied and ejected from the second chamber.
3. All of these operations occur without stopping the forward travel of the tractor.
4. Data suggests that hay losses are lower for variable chamber balers with belts than for fixed chamber balers with rollers,” says Slocombe.

“However, rollers may require less maintenance than belts or chains. “Large round balers come in a wide range of sizes. The smallest balers produce a full-sized bale that is approximately 4 feet wide by 5 feet in diameter. The largest balers make bales that are 8 feet wide by 6 feet in diameter.

Bale weights vary from 500 to 2,500 pounds in properly conditioned hay. Bale weights also vary with type and species of forage and cutting time (first, second or third).” Mini-round balers, also called roto-balers, are available for people with a small number of acres on which to produce hay. The compact round baler works on the same principle as its bigger cousin, rolling the hay inside a chamber until it reaches a certain size, then wrapping the bale with either twine or net, and ejecting it out the rear of the machine.

A mini-round bale generally weighs 40 to 55 pounds and can be easily lifted by one person.

How many kg is a large bale of haylage?

£ 52.00 Big bales, approx 250 – 300 kg bales of Timothy grass haylage. Out of stock SKU: big-bale-haylage-timothy Category: Haylage

Description

How heavy is a 5×5 hay bale?

1 Assumes all bales are the same density as a 5′ × 5′ bale that weighs 1,100 lb (11.21 lb/ft 3).

What is a bale of hay?

What is Hay? – Hay is a plant that has been cut, dried, and stored for animal feed. Many plants can be used as hay, but in Iowa today, alfalfa and clover are the most common. As Americans moved west onto the Great Plains in the 19th century, they would often use the prairie grasses that were growing there to feed their livestock.

Hay versus straw: Hay and straw are commonly confused. Hay is made from the stems, leaves, and seed heads of plants that are fresh. It is cut and baled when it has the most nutritional value, and is fed to livestock. Straw is also made from the stems and leaves of plants, but is cut after of the plants have been allowed to mature and the seed heads have been harvested for something else.

Straw has very little nutritional value, and is best used as bedding for animals.

What size is a small bale of hay?

Small Bales – For farms and ranches feeding a small amount of livestock, small, squares bales are used because they can be easily carried by hand. The dimension of a small bale held together by three strings is approximately 16″ high x 22″ wide x 44″ long (406.4 mm high x 558.8 mm wide x 1117.6 mm long) and usually weighs 100lbs.

Three string bales are less common than two string bales which usually measure 14″ high x 18″ wide x 35″ long and weighs 50-60lbs (355.6 mm high x 457.2 mm wide x 889 mm long). So, what are the dimensions of a small square hay bale then? Those that want to produce these types of bales can revel in the fact that square baler equipment can be adjusted to set the desired dimensions.

A small, square bale with these dimensions will feed one horse for a week if fed twice a day. About 10-12 square bales make a round bale, which means it’s an option best suited for small farms; large farms would not find small bales effective due to the extra time and resources it would take to produce the same amount of hay.

How many bales is 2 tons of hay?

Hay Terminology: A dump: This terminology is used on loading trucks, counting hay inventory and stacking hay roadside. Each dump of hay consist of 68 bales of hay per “dump”. The bottom row is on edge consisting of 12 bales. Each row on top of that is made of 8 bales patterns. The dump is 8’x8′ square. When ordering a semi load of hay, we load 6 dumps of hay on a 48′ flat bed for long distance domestic shipping. On a set of doubles it is 8 dumps. A Squeeze: A truck that picks up 56 to 68 bales at a time and loads and off loads semi trucks. A squeeze is driven as an independent truck and is legal on all highways. A squeeze has two large hydraulic arms that are 10′ long that squeeze a dump of hay to be loaded and off loaded. It takes a squeeze driver 30 minutes to load a semi truck with hay. A ton: 2000# pounds of hay to the ton. A retail three string bale weighs 100 # there are 20 bales in a ton. A “feed store ton” can be 16 bales. A semi holds 24 tons on a truck. Bale sizes : Bale size: 3 string 100 # to 140# to 140# 22″ x 15″ x 44″ Bale size: 2 string 40 # to 75 # 19″ x 16″ x 36″ One ton bales: 2000# 4′ x 4′ x 8′ Half ton bales: 1000# 3′ x 4′ x 6′ Round bales: 850 to 1100# 4×4 or 4×5 Back to top Bleached: Sun bleached hay on the outside of a stack or bale. This does not lower the integrity of the hay if it is fresh. The hay will turn a clean yellow color. It is similar to the “crust on toast” only affecting a thin layer on the outside of the bale, having little effect on the nutritional analysis. Blister Beetles: Blister beetles have an oily substance, cantharidin, in their body fluid that causes large blisters to form when a beetle is crushed. Cantharidin can cause sever inflammation and the formation of blisters on the skin. If absorbed through the intestines, symptoms can include inflammation, blisters in the mouth, straining, temperature, increased heart rate and respiration, sweating, diarrhea and frequent urination within the first 24 hours. This is accompanied by secondary infection and bleeding. Calcium levels in the horses may be drastically lowered and heart muscle tissues destroyed. Animals can die within 24 to 72 hours, so it is imperative to contact a veterinarian as soon as a blister beetle poisoning is suspected. Bucking hay: is a type of manual labor where hay bales, usually 65 lb. to as much as 140 lb., are stacked by hand in a storage area such as a barn, or stacked on a vehicle for transportation. The act of throwing the bales up to a higher level is called “bucking.” The work is very strenuous. Practicing a proper technique with hay hooks will reduce fatigue and injury. Cakie: A hard bale that looks compressed. It is the result of too much moisture during the baling process and too much hay in the bale. It is not appealing to the eye or to the touch. It will feed. Back to top Cantharidin: The poison that the Blister beetles produces which is usually fatal for horses. It is comparative to cyanide. A few beetles consumed in a single feeding of alfalfa hay may be lethal. Chaff: The loose hay that falls to the ground after cutting open a bale. Also Chaff hay is dried forage that has been cut into small pieces and bagged. As the forage is cut into short lengths it can be eaten quickly in contrast to hay and pasture. Good quality chaff should smell fresh, not be dusty and have no obvious contaminants. Chemical Conditioners: Some hay producers use a yeast product, others a salt product to maintain the high color and to dry the hay faster after cutting. The chemicals are sprayed onto the hay to speed evaporation of moisture. These are expensive techniques and used in areas where there is a combination of modern technology, high prices for hay, and too much rain for hay to dry properly. Back to top Clean: Free of Weeds, dirt, debris and foreign material. Colic in horses: is defined as abdominal pain, but it is a clinical sign rather than a diagnosis. The term “colic” can be unvolved in many painful conditions, not just in the gastrointestinal system. The most common forms of colic are gastrointestinal in nature and are most often related to colonic disturbance. There are a variety of different causes of colic, some of which can prove fatal without surgical intervention. Colic surgery is usually an expensive procedure as it is major abdominal surgery, often with intensive aftercare. Among horses, colic is a major cause of premature death. The incidence of colic in the general horse population has been estimated between 10 and 11 percent on an annual basis. Compressed hay: Regular size 22x15x44 bales that have been compressed and re-baled, sliced for efficiency to gain weight per square foot for shipping over seas in containers usually for export hay. Crop rotation: is the practice of growing a series of dissimilar types of crops in the same area in sequential seasons for various benefits such as to avoid the build up of pests that often occurs when one species is continuously cropped. Crop rotation also seeks to balance the fertility demands of various crops to avoid excessive depletion of soil nutrients. Back to top Flake: The way a bale splits. There should be about 17 flakes in a three string bale. A good flake should weigh about 8 # and makes a good feeding as long as the weight is there; always feed by weight! Good Color: Hay that is bright to the eye. Judge the inside of a bale color, not the outside. Hay is bleached by the sun in 72 hours from baling time and the nutritional value is not depleted. Quality hay can be bleached out on the outside of the bale. When the bale is opened, it will be bright and clean. Good Fiber Content: For founder, overweight, sugar intolerant and colicky horses good fiber content is important and it is found in all good forage. Good Leaf to Stem Ratio: Leafiness is an excellent indicator of hay quality because 60% of the total digestible nutrients, 70% of the protein, and 90% of the vitamins are found in the leaves. A high percentage of leaves indicate good harvest and handling methods. Good Quality hay: Medium color, clean, medium stem, not too coarse and has a good stem to leaf ratio, palatable. Back to top Hay: is a generic term for grass or legumes that have been cut, dried, and stored for use as animal feed, particularly for grazing animals like cattle, horses, goats and sheep. It is cut in the field and then dried and baled for storage. Hay is most nutritious when it is cut early on, before the seed heads are fully mature and before the stems of the plants become tough and thick. Hay that is very green can be a good indicator of the amount of nutrients in the hay; however, color is not the sole indicator of quality – smell and texture are also important. Hay can be analyzed by many laboratories and that is the most reliable way to tell the nutritional values it contains. Hay Conditioner: is a machine that crimps and crushes hay to promote faster and more even drying. A conditioner is made up of two rollers which the hay is forced through causing the stalks to split, thus giving more service area for moisture to escape. A crimper / conditioner, breaks the stem and rolls out the moisture from the plant, giving the producer the opportunity to bale their hay sooner because the hay cures quicker. It creates a soft hay and maintains good color. This also kills the blister beetle ! Beware! It doesn’t take very many blister beetles to poison a horse. These insects are especially a problem in alfalfa hay that is crimped when is cut. As you crush the hay you kill any toxic beetles in the hay. If you do not crimp, the beetle is more likely to survive and can crawl away before the baler comes along. Hay Process: Plant, fertilize, cut, rake, cure, bale, farm stack, truck, store stack, haul home, home stack, feed. Clean up manure!! Back to top Herbicide: is used to kill unwanted plants. Selective herbicides kill specific targets while leaving the desired crop relatively unharmed. Some of these act by interfering with the growth of the weed and are often synthetic “imitations” of plant hormones. Weed control is the botanical component of pest control, stopping weeds from reaching a mature stage of growth when they could be harmful to livestock by physical and chemical methods. Impaction: Impaction is often caused by coastal hay and horses not drinking enough water in the winter months with the addition of lack of exercise. Impaction colic is almost always food related. Impaction colic is just what it sounds like – an impaction of food (a blockage caused by non digestible food) in the intestines. Horses who bolt or gulp down their food as well as horses who have problems with their teeth are at a high risk of impaction colic because their food isn’t properly digested which can cause impaction and blockages. Worm infestation can also cause impaction. Consult with a veterinarian for the best wormer and schedule for your horse. Another cause of impaction colic is the horse ingesting too much dirt and/or sand. You can help prevent this by feeding your horse hay on the ground in a grassy area only, not sandy areas. In stalls keep them away from eating on sand. Use mats, feeders and shavings around feeding area. Always use a bucket for your feed. Insecticides: Pest / insect control refers to the regulation or management of a pest, usually because it is perceived to be detrimental to a person’s or animals health, the ecology or the economy. Pest control is at least as old as agriculture as there has always been a need to keep crops free from pests in order to maximize food production. Back to top Minerals: are required for maintenance and function of the skeleton, nerves and muscles. These include calcium, phosphorus, sodium, potassium and chloride. Horses also need trace minerals such as magnesium, selenium, copper, zinc and iodine. Normally, if adult animals at maintenance levels are consuming fresh hay and are on pasture, they will receive adequate amounts of minerals in their diet, with the exception of sodium chloride (Salt), which needs to be provided, preferably free choice. Some pastures are deficient in certain trace minerals, including selenium, zinc and copper. Health problems may occur if horses’ trace mineral intake is not properly supplemented. Calcium and phosphorus are needed in a specific ratio of between 1:1 and 2:1. Adult horses can tolerate up to a 5:1 ratio, foals no more than 3:1. A total ration with a higher ratio of phosphorus than calcium is to be avoided. Over time, imbalance will ultimately lead to a number of possible bone-related problems such as osteoporosis. Foals and young growing horses through their first three to four years have special nutritional needs and require feeds that are balanced with a proper calcium:phosphorus ratio and other trace minerals. A number of skeletal problems may occur in young animals with an unbalanced diet. Hard work increases the need for minerals; sweating depletes sodium, potassium, and chloride from the horse’s system. Therefore, supplementation with electrolytes may be required for horses in intense training, especially in hot weather. Mold in hay: Spoiled hay has a disagreeable moldy odor that is created from improper moisture control either during the baling process or from exposure to moisture during storage. Mold can be detected by sight; as white spores or a mold dust. Mold is deadly to horses. Organic farming: is a form of agriculture that relies on crop rotation, green manure, compost and biological pest control to maintain soil productivity and control pests, excluding or strictly limiting the use of synthetic fertilizers & pesticides. Organic agriculture sustains the health of soils, ecosystems and people. Organic agriculture combines tradition, innovation and science to benefit the shared environment. Back to top Over mature hay: No matter what type of hay it is, over mature hay is never good horse hay. Over mature hay can encompass many areas, from the stance of hay to the cutting cycle. Over mature hay is the number one reason for impaction for horses. Premium Cutting: is done in a 28 day cutting cycle. Premium hay: Safe, green, fresh, and soft, with a fine stem and a excellent stem to leaf ratio. The flake will hold its integrity. It will have a clean aroma and a palatable texture. Poor Quality hay: Dry, poor color, over bleached, coarse-stemmed with poor aroma and feel. There is little leaf, heavy stem and the leaf falls off of the stem. It may be moldy, dusty or rotting. Protein: Alfalfa and other legume hays are a good source of protein that can be easily added to the diet. Higher protein is important for lactating mares and young growing foals. Rained on hay: Weather damaged hay that is poor in color: the outside of the bale will have a gray tinge. The inside of the bale can have mold or “slugs.” Rained on hay can be very dangerous even when dried. The mold spores inside are deadly to horses. We recommend disposing of this type of hay. Back to top Retail hay: A lighter three string bale sold by the feed store on the west coast. Average bale weight 100#. This hay is easy to handle and good to premium quality. Ropy: Very mature Bermuda hay that has the texture of rope. Round bales: Hay baled in a round shape weighing approximately 1000# to accommodate the ability to free feed cattle, horses and clean up fields. it is most customary that round bales are a more mature hay verses small squares. Round bales are the #1 reason for impaction in horses. Safe: Insect free, mold free, disease free, trash free, fresh and clean and preferably from the west coast. Semi Full Load: a “truck trailer” also known as a “full load” of hay usually delivered direct to the ranch. Full loads consist of approximately 350 to 424 bales long distance domestic.18 to 24 tons of hay are loaded on the truck depending on the truck type trailer length and axle capacity. This hay is usually sold by the ton versus by the bale and is more cost effective. Semi Load: A full load, a semi load, a truck and trailer. Hay purchased in this manner is delivered directly to your ranch from the farm, with a maximum load of 24 tons. There is a savings when buying in bulk. Back to top Silage: Fermented hay for cattle. Slugs: A slug in a bale of hay is usually the size of a large flake inside the bale. You can see it from the outside of the bale. It can occur from the bale getting wet in one spot or during the baling process from the tractor. It is a bad flake in the heart of the bale. Do not feed that flake and check the remainder of the bale. Soft: Soft to the touch, not ropey, easy to digest. Soaking hay: To remove excess sugars for founderd horses. Spontaneous Combustion: Hay must be kept dry in storage or it may rot. The moisture content of stacked hay must be kept lower than 22% to avoid a significant risk of spontaneous combustion. Hay stored outside must be stacked in such a way that moisture contact is minimal. Some stacks are arranged in such a manner that the hay itself “sheds” rainwater when it falls. Other methods of stacking use the first layers or bales of hay as a cover to protect the rest. To completely keep out moisture, outside haystacks can also be covered by tarps, and many round bales are partially wrapped in plastic as part of the baling process. Hay is also stored under a roof when resources permit. It is frequently placed inside sheds, or stacked inside of a barn. Care must be taken that hay stored inside is never exposed to any possible source of heat or flame: both dry hay and the dust it produces are highly flammable. Square bales: Two string hay weighting 60#, three string hay weighing 100 # to 140 #, 44″ x” 22″15″, Three string hay is what we focus on at Hay USA inc. A premium horse quality hay. Each bale has about 17 flakes. One bale feeds one horse for about one week if fed two times a day. Back to top Stable hay: Heavy hay a three string bale usually delivered to the stables and off loaded by a squeeze. It is not handled by the retail client, it is more cost effective for the receiving ranch. Good to premium quality. TDN: Total digestible nutrients. Tender hay: A younger hay that is, easy to digest and soft to the touch. Three string bales: 100 # to 140# to 140# 22″ x 15″ x 44″ Tobacco Cured hay: Can be brownish in color, it gives a sweet hay, tea, rose oil, or fruity aroma like tobacco, and it looks like tobacco. Horses love it, though people don’t because it is not appealing to the eye. It is very rich, it is not molded. Windrow: A windrow is a row of cut (mowed) hay. It is allowed to dry before being baled or rolled. For hay, the windrow is often formed by a hay rake, which rakes hay that has been cut by a mower. Zebra Striped hay: Hay that was left in the wind row and bleached in the sun. It is considered a second grade hay. Back to top Lets do the math & dare to compare Hay USA retail prices when you pick up your hay at Hay USA. (This is an example only) (Call for current prices.) Retail Hay USA Alfalfa @135# / 2000 = 14.81 bales per ton x $21.00 per bale = $311.00 per ton Retail Hay USA Alfalfa @100# / 2000 = 20 bales per ton x $17.00 per bale = $340.00 per ton Competitors Alfalfa @100# / 2000 = 20 bales per ton x $20.00 per bale = $400.00 per ton Competitors Alfalfa @55# / 2000 = 36.36 bales per ton x $12.00 per bale = $436.00 per ton Hay USA has no control over bale weight on heavy bales. This is estimated on average loads that come to Hay USA retail location. The bale weight can be between 120# to 145 # on the load weight average. Prices per ton at the stack are market price in California. Nation wide Call 817-599-0200 Texas Call 1800-4-HAY-USA for current retail and full load prices. Hay USA Inc. feeds a wide variety of horses. We supply hay for top performing horses, breeding facilities large and small to the back yard horse owner. Our clients are educated and can not afford to take risks. That is why they buy from Hay USA Inc. Click here for client testimonials.

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How big is a 3×3 bale of hay?

Do you have any “big” bales? – Yes. We also bale mid-size bales that measure 3’x3’x8′ and typically weigh between 750 and 850 pounds. If you are interested in mid-size bales, please to check availability and price.

Is hay heavier than straw?

What to know about straw – Straw is a byproduct of cereal grain farming: Wheat, rice, oat, barley, rye, buckwheat, and more can all offer great straw product. About 50 percent of the plant yield makes up straw. Straw bales are generally much lighter in weight and color than hay bales and have a noticeably different texture.

Oftentimes, when you go on a classic “hay ride,” there’s a good chance it’s actually straw, not hay, that you’re seated on in the flat bed! Hay can be much heavier and itchier and is a food-based product instead of a comfortable bedding-type (or ornamental/decorative) product. Straw is used all around the world in producing many other products such as hats, thatched roofs, baskets, and cheap cardboard (strawboard), among others.

It’s also a big hit in the gardening world, as it can be used to make straw bale gardens or used as mulch, compost, or other weed control. Straw bales are sold in a variety of sizes, like hay, but you’re probably mostly commonly going to find it in the small square bale format (yes, it’s technically a right rectangular prism, but just go with us here on the farm term “square bale”).

It’s not uncommon to pay $4 to $5 per bale, with prices fluctuating based on season and demand. Another big difference between hay and straw is that hay is typically harvested before the plants make seed and are just growing leaves. These leaves are more nutrient packed and easy for an animal to digest compared to the low-quality stems left behind as straw.

Straw is a great way to “recycle” the leftover parts of the plant while hay is grown specifically for feed. There you have it, a crash course on the differences between hay and straw. The next time someone quizzes you about straw, you can say, ” Hay, I know the difference!” Michelle Miller, the Farm Babe, is a farmer, public speaker and writer who has worked for years with row crops, beef cattle, and sheep.

How much hay does a horse eat a day?

Measure feed accurately and feed consistently – Start off measuring your horse’s feed by weight using a kitchen or postal scale, or by using the scale at your local feed store. Once you figure out how much your horse’s typical ration weighs, measure that portion at feeding time using a scoop, coffee can, or whatever suits your needs.

How heavy is a 3×3 bale of hay?

How Heavy Is a 3x3x8 Square Hay Bale? – A 3×3 square bale of hay weighs between 880 to 1,100 lbs on average. A good mix of 40% grass and 60% alfalfa in a first cutting 3×3 will weigh less than 1,000 pounds. Straight, third-cutting hay can tip the scales at 1,100 pounds if packed correctly with perfect moisture content.

What is the difference between bale and bail?

If someone were to read this article to you, the sentence “John had to bale out of his convertible because a bail of hay was about to fall on it” would sound perfectly fine. Even if you were to read that sentence yourself, it’s possible you could miss the two spelling mistakes in it.

This is because bail and bale are homophones —they sound the same, and you can usually figure out their meanings from the context in which they are used. But when it comes to writing them, people are very often confused about which spelling should be used for which meaning. Here’s a tip: Want to make sure your writing always looks great? Grammarly can save you from misspellings, grammatical and punctuation mistakes, and other writing issues on all your favorite websites.

In the sentence where John was about to learn that hay fever isn’t the worst thing hay can do to you, we’ve used bail and bale incorrectly. Or did we? Here are the most common uses of the words: Bale is a large bound stack of material, such as hay or leather; Bail is the security deposit that’s paid if someone who’s been temporarily released from jail pending a trial doesn’t appear in court. While bale and bail don’t share many of their meanings, they do overlap in one sense—the phrasal verb “bail out.” If you wanted to say that someone had to jump out of an airplane using a parachute, run from a dangerous situation, or help someone in need, you could write “bale out” instead of “bail out” if you were using British English.

How big is a 4 string bale of hay?

Hay and Straw Bale Sizes We can produce and supply hay and straw bales in a range of sizes and types

Due to the construction all dimensions are approximate, and individual bales will vary slightly in size.

We are able to deal with urgent requests promptly, for more details. Scroll to Top : Hay and Straw Bale Sizes

How long does a large bale of hay last?

Hay bales stacked in the paddock – Hay is dried herbaceous plants such as legumes or grass. As such, its lifespan is anything but infinite. From the moment hay is harvested, it begins going bad. The average lifespan of a round bale of hay is five to six days, which isn’t very long.

Should you choose to cover the hay bale with a hay net that includes1.75-inch holes, then you can extend the life of the hay. Now you’d get between eight and 10 days from one rounded bale, which is a lot more time to work with. As we indicated in the intro, hay importers like yourself must be aware of how long a round bale of hay will last so you can expedite the shipping process.

After all, if the hay arrives to your customer too late, then they’ll have paid for a bad product. The customer might want a refund, which hurts the bottom line of your company. They’ll almost certainly leave a bad review, which can prevent other potential customers from wanting to do business with you.

How much does a small bale of hay weigh?

Hay Bale Sizes – You can buy hay in several different sized bales. Your barn setup and the equipment available to handle hay will partially dictate bale size. Like most things, “buying in bulk” will typically save you money. This translates to larger bales usually being the most cost-effective, but also the most difficult to store, Source: Canva Large Square Bales A large square bale of hay is often referred to as a three-string bale. These bales measure around 16″ high x 22″ wide x 44″ and weigh around 100 lbs. Source: Canva Small Square Bales Small square bales are ideal if you just have one or two horses, as they require less storage space and are light enough to be carried by hand. A standard sized small square bale, or two-string bale, weighs between 50 and 60 lb and measures 14″ high x 18″ wide x 35″ long. Source: Canva Hay Bundle A bundle of hay consists of 21 small square bales. In some areas, you’ll need to purchase small bales in bundles—they won’t be sold individually.

How much haylage to feed a 500kg horse?

Horses have evolved to graze frequently on small amounts for up to 15 hours a day. But today, horses and ponies are frequently stabled for part or all of the day and fed a limited supply of preserved forage, such as hay or haylage. This ultimately restricts their natural feeding pattern.

1. If this is not adequately addressed, it can increase the risk of disease and/or abnormal behaviours.
2. Historically, the quality of forages, such as grass or hay, was too poor to meet the high energy demands of working horses, so their diet was high in cereal grains.
3. Today, cereals are frequently included in daily rations, although they are now more common in complementary feeds.

But this can mean less forage is provided, particularly for performance horses. If the nutritional or behavioural needs for chewing or eating forage aren’t met, then the health of the horse may suffer. Potential consequences include gastrointestinal diseases, such as ulcers, colic and diarrhoea, or the development of behavioural vices.

1. These needs are now better understood and have been agreed in the form of recommendations recently published in the scientific journal, ANIMAL.
2. Significant changes were agreed to the recommendations for feeding hay or haylage to horses” explain Dr Pat Harris.
3. We now have a much better and deeper understanding of the nutritional needs of horses, so it seemed wise to update the guidance for all those feeding horses to reflect this”.

Dr Harris, who is Head of Equine Studies at the WALTHAM Centre for Pet Nutrition, joined other equine nutrition experts to review the large body of research. “Together we agreed to update the recommendations, which we hope will ultimately improve the health and welfare of all horses”.

1. In Europe, feeding haylage is increasingly common.
2. It is not unusual for owners to underfeed haylage as it is commonly used to replace hay on a weight for weight basis, or when there are concerns over potential weight gain or unwanted behaviour due to its higher energy value.
3. With the new minimum recommendation for forage intake increasing dramatically to 15g dry matter per kg body weight (g DM/kg BW) from 10g based on this review, it is even more important to ensure horses are fed sufficient forage, especially haylage.

But what does this actually mean? “Ultimately this translates as an increase in the minimum amount of hay for a 350kg pony from almost 4 to nearly 6kg per day (assuming 90% dry matter), or a rise from 5kg to 7.5kg for haylage (assuming 70% dry matter)” highlighted Dr Harris.

Obviously, for a larger thoroughbred horse the increase in daily amount of haylage is more dramatic, A 550kg thoroughbred requires an additional 4kg to meet the minimum recommendation of nearly 12kg (if the dry matter content is 70%). To further recreate the natural feeding behaviour, food should ideally be freely available through the day.

When this is not possible, at the very least, horses should not be left without the opportunity to eat for more than 4-6 hours. Although different recommendations were made for those horses who require a dramatic reduction in calorie intake, the need to forage and chew still remains important.

• To read the full review paper, Harris et al., 2016.
• Review: Feeding conserved forage to horses: recent advances and recommendations. ANIMAL.
• Available online.
• What is dry matter? Dry matter (DM) is the content of a feed or forage that remains after the water or moisture has been evaporated.
• Hay typically has the highest dry matter content, with the new terminology defining this as over 85% DM.

Haylage has a much lower DM content that may be as low as 50% according to this new publication. How do I find out what the dry matter of my hay or haylage is? Commercially sourced haylage may have the dry matter content displayed on the feed bag or available through the company’s website.

• However, haylage and hay bought directly through farmers are unlikely to have this information.
• There are a number of feed analysis services available, and they will be able to give you basic nutrition information for a small charge.
• What does g DM/kg BW mean? “g DM/kg BW” means how many grams of dry matter you should feed per kilogram of your horse’s bodyweight.

How do I calculate how much DM my horse is getting? To calculate the minimum value for your horse, multiple their bodyweight (in kg) by 15. This is how many grams of DM they need a day. If you know the DM content of your forage, multiple the grams by 100 and then divide by the percentage DM.

Is haylage richer than hay?

Should I Feed My Horse Hay or Haylage? Making the decision between Hay & Haylage can often be a difficult decision for many horse owners. Horses need adequate fibre in their diet to keep their large intestine working properly and, traditionally, in the winter period, this has been supplied by hay.

1. But acquiring hay of consistent quality has always been a problem as the horse is a fussy feeder and will reject poor quality material, especially if there is an unusual smell or significant moulding present.
2. Poorer quality hay is low in nutrients and could cause severe long term health problems due to the presence of moulds.

The low moisture content of hay allows the mould spores to become airborne which may cause an allergic respiratory disease called Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) commonly known as a dust cough or allergy. Already up to one in every five horses suffers from some form of dust allergy.

Once a horse has been affected it will never recover and will always need special attention to minimise exposure to dust. For instance it will be necessary to soak hay prior to feeding, a tiresome, labour intensive task that leaches out nutrients leading to a further reduction in the hay’s nutritional value and may still not succeed in controlling the disease.

Many equine nutritionists now recommend feeding haylage instead of hay although there are pros and cons to each. Haylage is much closer to the horses natural diet of grass, both in texture and nutritional value it is more palatable and digestible than hay, has a higher nutritional value and is less dusty.

• If made properly it will contain few, if any, mould spores and its higher moisture content helps prevent any spores that are present from becoming airborne and causing problems.
• The main question to ask yourself is what is the most suitable for my horse? To this, there are a number of important factors to consider.

Every equines nutritional needs are different, and there are no hard and fast rules as to what works best for each individual. However, the pros and cons of each feed should be considered when choosing what is best for you.

• Advantages of Feeding Haylage
• * Haylage is dust free
• * Haylage bales are denser

1. * Haylage bales are wrapped in polythene, ideal for storing outside
2. * Haylage is more palatable than hay which makes it more enjoyable and less wastage
3. * Higher nutritional value so you can purchase less feed
4. * A natural feed and more easily digested, horses prefer wetter forages
5. * More cost-effective

Haylage is often considered more expensive than hay but that is in terms of fresh weight consumed. If its higher nutritional value is taken into account there is really little difference, it may even be cheaper on a total feed cost per day basis, and it has additional health and welfare benefits.

• * Hay of good quality will remain in good condition for a long period if stored correctly, unlike haylage that once opened must be used as soon as possible.
• * Hay is a cheaper to buy than Haylage
• Making The Change from Hay to Haylage or Visa Versa

The large intestine contains bacteria to help digest the fibre in feeds. They are very sensitive to changes in the diet so make the switch gradually, say over a week, to allow the bacteria time to adapt. This should prevent stomach upsets. You also need to get used to handling haylage so as not to over or under feed your horse.

A typical 500 kg 16hh riding horse requires a minimum daily roughage intake of about 1% bodyweight, ie 5kg of hay, or, due to its higher moisture content, 7 to 8.5kg of haylage. But although you need more haylage by weight you need much less by volume as, again due to its higher moisture, haylage is much denser than hay.

At the beginning it is best to weigh out the required amount each day until you get used to judging it. Haylage dry matter has about 10% higher nutritional value than hay so if you are feeding the equivalent in terms of dry matter, you can also cut down on supplementary feed as less will be needed to meet the horses energy requirements.

How many tons is a load of hay?

Full Truck Load Direct Shipment – Buyers who are capable of receiving and unloading full truckload shipments can benefit from the cost savings of full truck load shipments. Full truck load shipments typically contain 20 tons of hay, or thirty pallets of wood shavings and require the receiver to unload the truck within a two hour window of time.

How heavy is a 3×3 bale of hay?

How Heavy Is a 3x3x8 Square Hay Bale? – A 3×3 square bale of hay weighs between 880 to 1,100 lbs on average. A good mix of 40% grass and 60% alfalfa in a first cutting 3×3 will weigh less than 1,000 pounds. Straight, third-cutting hay can tip the scales at 1,100 pounds if packed correctly with perfect moisture content.

Is hay heavier than straw?

What to know about straw – Straw is a byproduct of cereal grain farming: Wheat, rice, oat, barley, rye, buckwheat, and more can all offer great straw product. About 50 percent of the plant yield makes up straw. Straw bales are generally much lighter in weight and color than hay bales and have a noticeably different texture.

• Oftentimes, when you go on a classic “hay ride,” there’s a good chance it’s actually straw, not hay, that you’re seated on in the flat bed! Hay can be much heavier and itchier and is a food-based product instead of a comfortable bedding-type (or ornamental/decorative) product.
• Straw is used all around the world in producing many other products such as hats, thatched roofs, baskets, and cheap cardboard (strawboard), among others.

It’s also a big hit in the gardening world, as it can be used to make straw bale gardens or used as mulch, compost, or other weed control. Straw bales are sold in a variety of sizes, like hay, but you’re probably mostly commonly going to find it in the small square bale format (yes, it’s technically a right rectangular prism, but just go with us here on the farm term “square bale”).

1. It’s not uncommon to pay $4 to $5 per bale, with prices fluctuating based on season and demand.
2. Another big difference between hay and straw is that hay is typically harvested before the plants make seed and are just growing leaves.
3. These leaves are more nutrient packed and easy for an animal to digest compared to the low-quality stems left behind as straw.

Straw is a great way to “recycle” the leftover parts of the plant while hay is grown specifically for feed. There you have it, a crash course on the differences between hay and straw. The next time someone quizzes you about straw, you can say, ” Hay, I know the difference!” Michelle Miller, the Farm Babe, is a farmer, public speaker and writer who has worked for years with row crops, beef cattle, and sheep.

How much is a hay bale UK?

Meadow Hay – Small Bales

What weight of hay per horse?

Measure feed accurately and feed consistently – Start off measuring your horse’s feed by weight using a kitchen or postal scale, or by using the scale at your local feed store. Once you figure out how much your horse’s typical ration weighs, measure that portion at feeding time using a scoop, coffee can, or whatever suits your needs.