bex1984
Well-Known Member
How much does a standard small rectangular bale of hay weigh? Anyone know?
Quick question - weight of a bale of hay?
- Thread starter bex1984
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How much does a standard small rectangular bale of hay weigh? Anyone know?
spaniel
Well-Known Member
It totally depends on the conditions it was made under. In theory anything between 15 and 25kg. For small bales there isnt really any standard as so much depends on water content and whim of the person baling it!
jumpthemoon
Well-Known Member
Hiya
It depends on how they are baled - they are all different really. The best option is to get a set of scales that you hang a haynet on and weigh your hay out in a net. They aren't very expensive.....
It depends on how they are baled - they are all different really. The best option is to get a set of scales that you hang a haynet on and weigh your hay out in a net. They aren't very expensive.....
bex1984
Well-Known Member
have one of those scale things - and have just had instructions from the nutritionist to increase his hay to 8kg a day!! was wondering how much a bale weighs as I'm sure this is going to cost me an absolute fortune!!
jumpthemoon
Well-Known Member
Gosh - are you sure they are trying to get him to LOSE weight? It was slimmer of the year award he was going for, wasn't it? Not Fattie of the year?
You'll have to keep him in so he has time to eat it all!
You'll have to keep him in so he has time to eat it all!
bex1984
Well-Known Member
I know, it seems like loads doesn't it?! He's having nearly 5kg a day at the mo!!
jumpthemoon
Well-Known Member
Is he losing any weight? Have you weighed him lately?
bex1984
Well-Known Member
yes, he's losing approx 6kg a week!! But he seems very hungry and I am getting dragged about all over the place as he goes on a quest for more food!!
flyingfeet
Well-Known Member
Bales do vary a lot - depends on how thick the sward was on a particular row and how good the baler is
Our baler started off making tight bales, but when slightly pear shaped (bales went banana shaped)
If it helps, my 16hh boys would eat 1.5 bales in a day if in.
Our baler started off making tight bales, but when slightly pear shaped (bales went banana shaped)
If it helps, my 16hh boys would eat 1.5 bales in a day if in.
pottamus
Well-Known Member
I would not get too hung up about weights of bales of hay really...he is obviously hungry if as you say he is dragging you about everywhere for food...perhaps up it by a pad and see how it goes, keep weigh taping him etc. I would say that loosing 6kg a week is a bit much really...I prefer them to loose it a bit more gradual than that.
My boy (Welshie cob) is on a diet and weighs 510kg at the moment...whilst increasing his exercise and having him in on hay at night I aim for him to get down to his ideal weight of 490kg over the next couple of months so he is slim for spring time. He is out at grass during the day (plenty of it) and in on ad lib year old hay at night.
Just keep up the weigh taping and exercise, but there is no point making them go for long periods without food as they just get grumpy and difficult (or is that just mine?)!
My boy (Welshie cob) is on a diet and weighs 510kg at the moment...whilst increasing his exercise and having him in on hay at night I aim for him to get down to his ideal weight of 490kg over the next couple of months so he is slim for spring time. He is out at grass during the day (plenty of it) and in on ad lib year old hay at night.
Just keep up the weigh taping and exercise, but there is no point making them go for long periods without food as they just get grumpy and difficult (or is that just mine?)!
Cop-Pop
Well-Known Member
I've had to increase haylage amount this winter because of the (extremely) poor summer we had in Tewkesbury there is hardly any nutrition in it. I'm feeding nearly twice what they were on last year plus additives etc and they aren't putting on weight.