Mike Rankin writes about feeding hay, the challenges, strategies and opportunities during these winter months. Winter chores are a survival game, but don’t lose sight of what’s going on during the hay-feeding ritual, he says. One of the tasks associated with bale feeding is removing the bale-binding material, be it net wrap, plastic twine or sisal twine.
Source: Hay and Forage Grower, January 3, 2017.
Large bale feeding systems are designed to minimize labor but not waste,” says Steve Tonn, extension educator for the University of Nebraska-Lincoln based in Blair. He suggests that long, rectangular feeders are less effective at reducing hay waste compared to round or square feeders because boss animals can more easily push others away from the feeder.
INSIGHTS: Veterinarians and sales representatives can find opportunities when discussion hay feeding challenges. Supplementation is a common need as hay quality may vary from bale to bale.