Large round bale hay wastage by various feeding methods

Authors

R.K. Taylor
G.W. Warmann
B.M. Plaschka
Dale A. Blasi
Glenn E. Newdigger Jr.

Keywords

Cattlemen's Day, 1993; Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station contribution; no. 93-318-S; Report of progress (Kansas State University. Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service); 678; Beef; Feeding management; Feed wastage; Large round bales

Abstract

The amounts of wheat or hybrid sudan hay wasted with three large round bale feeding methods were evaluated at two ranch locations. The feeding methods were: 1) bale processor (Hay Forage Industries BP 25®) used to shred forage into bunks; 2) the same processor used to shred forage onto the ground; and 3) unrolling large round bales on the ground. Estimated forage wastages or refusals from unrolling, shredding onto ground, and shredding into bunks were 23, 13, and 8% with wheat hay and 22, 16, and 11% with sudan hay, respectively. These results demonstrate the potential for substantial savings of forage. Shredding or tub-grinding large round bales and feeding in bunks appears to have economic potential when hay prices are high and when herd size is large.

Recommended Citation

Taylor, R.K.; Warmann, G.W.; Plaschka, B.M.; Blasi, Dale A.; and Newdigger, Glenn E. Jr. (1993) "Large round bale hay wastage by various feeding methods," Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports: Vol. 0: Iss. 1. https://doi.org/10.4148/2378-5977.2107