![]() Keeping a round bale in a feeder ensures less is wasted on the ground, and means there is less for you to clear up, too. This also helps to keep their digestive system working properly and helps to maintain their weight at a healthy level. As well as containing any mess and loose hay that could make their barn or stable messy.Ī round bale feeder will mean your horse’s hay intake is monitored and they don’t eat too much at once. The best horse round bale feeder is a great way to not only feed your horse, but to monitor just how much they are eating. ![]() Feeding large round bales to your horses is definitely worth your consideration.Keeping your horse fed properly doesn’t have to be difficult, particularly when you have the right equipment. There are hay nets made for round bales and square bales both large and small that can be used to reduce hay waste, shorten the amount of time and labor at feeding, and above all, save you money. We do still purchase some square bales for trail riding trips, but less than 50 bales a year. ![]() The biggest thing we have noticed is that this method has cut our hay cost almost in half. Not only have we experienced hardly any hay waste using this method, but we have noticed the round bales last longer and there has been no weight loss in our horses. This hay feeder is placed under a lean-to shed attached to our barn. Personally, for my own two horses, we use a round bale hay net in combination with a feeder that keeps the bale off the ground. Horses tend to paw at the hay fed on the ground and horseshoes could be caught in the small squares of the net. If using the hay net alone on the ground, I recommend that horses should not be shod. Cosmetic rub marks along the sides of faces can occur with some horses. Horse injuries are uncommon for the most part when using these feeders. There are multiple types of round bale feeders including hay nets, cones, cradles and covered cradles, hay huts, different styles of rings and roofed feeders. ![]() All feeders reduce hay waste compared to not using one. If you are going to feed round bales to your horses, I highly recommend using a round bale feeder designed for horses. Therefore, feeding your horse round bales without a feeder can result in around 57% of the bale being wasted and a reduction in hay intake - horses are picky eaters compared to cattle, and as a result, can experience weight loss. Once on the ground they stand and pass urine and manure on it, making it undesirable to eat. They generally take a big bite and half of it falls on the ground. Horses are wasteful eaters when it comes to hay. Round bales can be stored outside but they should be off the ground, such as placed on pallets and covered with plastic or a waterproof tarp to reduce waste from the weather. Purchasing hay that has been processed at the right time and stored inside where it cannot get wet is a must. Horses are sensitive and should not be fed wet/moldy hay. If you are not producing your own hay, then you will have to purchase it. Round bales can weigh between 500 and 1,200 pounds apiece and you need to be able to move them around for feeding and storage. One thing that you will need is a tractor with a loader/round bale spear. There are some things that need to be considered before you start feeding round bales.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |