Now more than ever with inflation and prices rising it’s important to conserve as much hay as possible. Large hay bales are often a good choice when looking to save on your hay costs if you have the equipment and storage to keep them. When feeding your horses outdoors you will want to make sure to use a hay feeder that will contain your hay as much as possible.

Why Use Large Hay Bales

For bigger farm operations, larger hay bales are often the most economical choice as they feed more at a lower cost. They also have an advantage over smaller because they ferment naturally keeping mold and rot from impacting the hay; therefore, you can keep them for longer. In addition, using a larger hay bale can be used to feed more horses at one time, making them more efficient for feeding.

Round or Square Hay Bales?

There is a difference between large round and square hay bales. Square hay bales tend to have a higher density than round. Square bales are also easier to carry so require less manpower. They also store more effortlessly as they can be stacked without any issues of rolling.

Round hay bales, however, typically tend to be less expensive as they are more highly produced. In addition, because of their size, round hay bales can provide more protection from the elements, helping to keep them fresh for longer. Both round or square large hay bales have the advantage of saving you time and money.

Klene Pipe’s big bale hay feeder, the H-8 Horse Hay Feeder can hold either large square or round hay bales and are designed to help keep your large hay bales in place to avoid loss of hay. Our no-waste hay feeders prevent hay from scattering and blowing, saving you time and money.

Winter is here and it’s important to that you have enough hay in your barn until the pastures are growing again in Spring. This may seem like a tedious task, but taking these factors into consideration can make your decision easier.

Take these factors into consideration:

Number of animals is often something that is overlooked because it’s so basic. With more animals, more hay is needed. Be sure to factor in animals you’ll be selling, purchasing or new animals that will be born during the colder months to plan accordingly.

Weight of animals is another basic factor, but important. If your animals are larger they will need more hay to sustain themselves through the colder months.

Length of season is one of the most important factors to consider when calculating the amount of hay you’ll need. This can vary depending on where you are located and the climate of the area. In the southern half of the United States, animals can forage much later in the fall and earlier in the spring. Animals in the northern part of the country are much more dependent on hay to sustain themselves through the cold, winter months. In Indiana, a majority of hay is needed from October through March. It’s best to limit foraging due to pasture damage which can keep animals from reaching peak production.

Temperatures will also impact the amount of hay consumed by animals. In extreme temperatures, high caloric intake is necessary for survival. If the climate of your area reaches below zero for longer periods of time, your animals hay intake may be on the higher side.

Keeping all these factors in mind will ensure that your season is successful and your animals well taken care of.