0000032849 00000 n Often, not even close enough for government work. Waiting to wrap is the potential Achilles heel of haylage. Thanks for stopping by! This is called custom work and needs to be planned ahead of time. Hay bale density is determined by how much the baler compresses the hay. These bales are super heavy and do not roll, so a loader of some sort is required to get the haylage to your animals when you want to feed it. 2020-41595-30123 from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. ] VMkd?h5u#]XLT. Dont use anything that will pierce the plastic. This variation, coupled with operator experience, lends further variability into the bale density and weight discussion. You cut the hay field at the highest nutrition growth stage for your stock, usually this is right before blooming or sending up a seed head. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. I truly enjoy sharing our experiences (Im the writer) and helping folks get started raising animals on their own farm or in the backyard. Welcome to the amazing world of wild creatures. 0000043584 00000 n In addition, forage samples were taken from each load to measure moisture content. Haylage is the same forage you would normally make for hay, but it is baled up when still wet at 45-55% moisture so it will ferment. 0000006605 00000 n You know, from the information above, a cubic foot of concrete weighs 150 pounds. Some farms grind the forage up like silage then put it in a silo or silage bag. Formula: The hay was baled in a round baler, some farms use a big square baler, and left in the field. Leaves generally pack better than stems, so as plants mature and develop a higher percentage of stems to leaves, bales generally become less dense and weigh less. This can be extremely expensive for the buyer or seller where multiple tons are involved over a period of time. 0000003418 00000 n Multiply by .4 if ear corn. The weight changes, however, when the temperature does. Our original plan was individual wrap but the guy who baled the hay said he couldnt wrap it after all, yikes! Estimating the Weight of Forage in a Forage Wagon. Let's look into it. Weight = 6.15 pounds per gallon for gasoline. Many people use the words haylage and baleage interchangeably. Multiply 150 pounds by .5 feet and you get 75 pounds for a square foot of concrete that's 6 inches thick. It takes much longer per bale to individually wrap and uses quite a bit more plastic per bale. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. The average dry weight of each species is calculated at 8% moisture content. The first is an easy fix, put the haylage where you dont have to move it. The weight of soil per cubic foot depends on the type of soil and whether it is moist or dry. Size:: 18 x 14 x 36 -- weight: 120 to 180 lbs. Three decades ago it was thought that effective starch utilization occurred if the corn kernel was merely nicked or broken. Since we were running really late on time ours were tube wrapped, just because it is faster than wrapping individually. Density = 0.8 bushels per cubic foot for corn or soybeans 0000001349 00000 n 0000038442 00000 n How long the haylage takes to reach 45-55% depends upon the forage and the weather, but the next day is likely the time to bale haylage for us. 0000023888 00000 n Definitions link to Why Do Farmers Have Lambs In The Winter. 0000004973 00000 n An EEO/AA employer, University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension provides equal opportunities in employment and programming, including Title VI, Title IX, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act requirements. 0000028236 00000 n The latter accounts for the largest change. 0000039989 00000 n Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. byKevin J. Shinners and Brian J. Holmes 0000011291 00000 n Short versions: For us, north central Ohio, this hay making window is at least three days of clear weather. What can it do for your livestock? There are a few cautions to be taken here: haylage does not move well and a puncture to the plastic will result in spoilage. With the weather being wet in the summer lately, we decided to make our own haylage, instead of hoping to catch a dry week. Size: 3 ft. x 4 ft. x 8 ft. Large square bales have been around for about 40 years. This is because legumes such as alfalfa will make a denser bale than a grass species. In the previously mentioned Wisconsin study, the average weight of a 4-foot by 5-foot legume bale was 986 pounds. Diameter - distance across a round structure Since we are primarily pasture based, more rain is better than not enough, but it does make getting hay dry a tough task. How good are these estimates? Horizontal silos, bag silos, and stacks require mechanical compaction to achieve adequate . Now the haylage has to cure, meaning ferment for a while to turn into haylage. When the density of haylage or corn silage in a forage box is known, an estimate of the total forage weight in a chopper box can be calculated by multiplying the chopper box volume by the forage density. Topics covered in this hay bale weight guide: A 4x4 round bale of legumes like alfalfa weighs about 600 lbs (272 kg). There are two standard guides for determining the weight and volume of corn silage. To find the average dry weight per board foot, divide the pounds per cubic foot by 12. Haylage is normally stored outside in rows or stacks, no barn is needed. We all know that the sooner you notice a health problem in your stock, the sooner you can start treatment and get her back into top shape. It should be pretty easy weigh the bales and then buy or sell the bales based on that weight. The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user. Now the naturally occurring bacteria that like to grow in anaerobic conditions start to grow. Sometimes growers sell hay from a field and require an estimate of the quantity removed or sold. How can the total weight of a loaded forage box be estimated? We will also look at the factors that affect hay bale weight, such as density, moisture content and hay species. The first tractor is on the baler and the second is either running the wrapper or tipping the bales up onto the flat side to sit. %PDF-1.3 % goes over the other type of haylage we love, Oatlage, which is just haylage made of oats, is a great way to harvest oats as wonderful feed for your stock. When raising sheep, you occasionally get a sick one. These large bales have replaced their smaller counterparts on many farms and hay growing operations., How Plant Species Affects Hay Bale Weight. If your baler is older, check into its capabilities. We use a mower conditioner, commonly called a haybine, that cuts the grass then smashes the stems in a set of rollers so the forage will dry faster. The example specified 65% moisture therefore the silage contains 35% dry matter. Frequently it would be useful to know the weight of forage harvested from a field. This means it needs to be high quality and harvested on time, both of which have been challenging lately with dry hay for our area. Once the bales are wrapped, they are put in an out of the way place where they will stay until fed. Each square foot, or five cents worth of plastic cover, may save a cubic foot of silage, or about 30 cents worth; thus you save about 25 cents worth of feed per square foot of surface area. Some farms make haylage like silage-chop it up and put it in a silo. Think about it like sauerkraut compared to shredded cabbage. To make good-quality earlage, follow these guidelines: Make sure the crop's moisture content is correct before chopping. But on average the dirt weighs about 80 pounds per cubic foot with the typical range of 74 to 110 pounds per cubic foot. Then we would do the baling in the afternoon of the third day. We all know that the sooner you notice a health problem in your stock, the sooner you can start treatment and get her back into top shape. 0000011521 00000 n We weigh grain, feed inputs, crop inputs, calves, cows, and milk . (If you find any errors please contact us). The plastic is cut so that it lays flat on the floor and removed when the haylage is fed. Let's say we have 15 cubic meters of Portland concrete. Small square bales have been around the longest, over 100 years. Some people even use squares, both small and large, as baleage. To find the average dry weight per board foot, divide the pounds per cubic foot by 12. . Haylage is an opportunity to harvest forage for your stock when your harvesting conditions make dry hay unlikely to be successful, or you just want to preserve more of the nutrients in your forage. Use Table 5 to adjust for other moisture levels. Square hay bales come in two size groups, small and large. Haylage is baled at 40-60% moisture, it is essentially a wet bale of wilted forage. Haylage is made by baling the forage when wet (45-55% moisture) then wrapping it to get proper fermentation by excluding air. Lets look into it. Conversion is easy: Need help? Feed costs account for 60% of a beef cow . It is listed in pounds per cubic foot or kilograms per cubic meter. 0000004282 00000 n trailer << /Size 234 /Info 169 0 R /Encrypt 187 0 R /Root 186 0 R /Prev 235248 /ID[<03c3f8c75692ed62b9f40aeef95d39f5>] >> startxref 0 %%EOF 186 0 obj << /Type /Catalog /Pages 172 0 R /Metadata 170 0 R /JT 184 0 R /PageLabels 168 0 R >> endobj 187 0 obj << /Filter /Standard /R 2 /O ( UV.`Dz-#_m_}g) /U (]pek+YTCYm{`N) /P -4 /V 1 /Length 40 >> endobj 232 0 obj << /S 607 /T 728 /L 800 /Filter /FlateDecode /Length 233 0 R >> stream This is one of those good idea, bad result things. Depending upon the day, the flock and the nutritional value of the haylage we may not need to feed the whole bale. Small square bales have been around the longest, over 100 years. This is a big advantage for shipping and storage. weight before drying - weight after drying /weight before drying = moisture content percentage We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. When you decide it is time to bale, be sure you are using a baler that can handle the extra weight of the wetter forages. Cut the netting immediately before unrolling the bale. Silage that is not packed has a weight of approximately 25 pounds per cubic foot, and well-packed silage is considered to weigh approximately 35 pounds per cubic foot. Bushels = 0.628 x diameter x diameter x average depth of grain (all in feet) for shelled corn or soybeans If you need to convert to cubic feet from inches: divide the final number (i.e. As for the second concern, punching into the plastic, keep the haylage in a low traffic area and check the plastic every few days. Most small square bales can be handled manually. Hay bales can weigh from 40 lbs to 2,000 lbs (18 kg to 907 kg). If something went wrong in the fermentation process, like the plastic was torn and introduced air, then the haylage will be unsuitable as feed. Average Density and Dry Matter Content of Five Forages in Forage Wagons (Marshfield, Wisconsin 1992-1994). (zSA Feedback, questions or accessibility issues: Making Sure Your Kernel Processor Is Doing Its Job, 2023 The Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System. The forage used for haylage is cut the same as it would be for will for dry hay, the difference is in the timing of baleing. Missing the weight of a bale by 10 percent amounts to some pretty significant dollars if multiple tons are being purchased. It looks like nothing was found at this location. Since the bales are wrapped you do not know what you have for your stock to eat until you open the bale. We count on any hay or haylage we harvest to make a big dent in the amount of purchased forage we need for the winter. Wed love to hear from you if you have any questions! Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. 0000042791 00000 n Looks ready to bale dry? Circumference - distance around a round structure Im sure these two young men had better things to do on a Saturday night than drive clear over to our place and wrap our hay on such last minute notice. Short distance transport is done with special wagons and trailers. Square hay bales come in two size groups, small and large. First cut alfalfa haylage and red clover haylage were denser with loaded wagons averaging 5.6 lbs DM/ft3. Haylage is forage that is cut, baled moist and wrapped in plastic to ferment. Most people use two tractors to make haylage. Shrink Loss is the Weight of As Fed (AF) Feed lost d. This form needs Javascript to display, which your browser doesnt support. Care should be used when interpreting the results of a shrink calculation. Some dryland corn producers this year turned to silage production to get the most value from their low-yield crop. Most hay bales stabilize at about 8% to 9% moisture content. Round bales, also called rolls of hay, started showing up in fields about 40 years ago. This means that the actual forage density for all species ranged from 4.2 lbs DM/ft to 5.8 lbs DM/ft. Density - pounds of grain, forage or liquid contained in one cubic foot of storage space, Bushels = Pi x diameter x diameter x average depth of grain (all in feet) x density, or 0000015041 00000 n Either way, this is the not exact, youll have to give it your best guess part. Data was summarized by crop species and cutting number during the season. Typical hay bale density is 9 to 12 lbs per cubic foot. Long distance transport of round bales presents some special problems. 0000017247 00000 n One day I asked one of the sellers whom I knew pretty well why he didnt scale his load. As with all estimation methods, there is a small amount of error inherent in this calculation method. Weight = 8.33 pounds per gallon for water All rights reserved. &== bfi:2q~~q8]_Bb2. Since haylage is made sooner than hay, more of the nutrients that were in the plants when you mowed them remain in the haylage. . No. Average depth of grain = height of grain on the outside wall of the bin plus one-third the height of the grain cone (from the top of the grain on the outside wall to the highest tip in the center) Overall, both the agents and farmers missed the actual average bale weight by 100 pounds, sometimes being over and other times being under the true weight. Weights of Metals with Industrial Applications (Metal Density in US Units and Metric); Metal: Pounds per Cubic Foot lb/ft: Pounds per Cubic Inch lb/in: Kilograms per Cubic Meter kg/m: Grams per Cubic Centimeter g/cm: Aluminum: 168.6 lb/ft: 0.098 lb/in: 2,700 kg/m: 2.70 g/cm High density bales are made with whats called a High Density Bale Compression System (bale press). Being round they are difficult to secure and there have been multiple accidents caused by bales falling from trucks. Both are fermented hay made for feeding livestock. One suggestion for helping to determine the depth of fill in a forage box is to make permanent marks on 1/2 ft intervals on the side of the forage box. Three wire bales are denser, a bit bigger and weigh about twice as much as two string bales. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. Two string bales were the most common hay bales for many years. the total you get after multiplying the three dimensions together) by 1728. The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes. Bale density is measured in pounds per cubic foot. We put the bale in the end of the barn with the tractor, then cut the plastic and remove the netting while inside. No. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Short version: Pounds = 0.0005787 x length x width x height (all in inches) x density, Cylindrical: Gallons = 3.1416 x diameter x diameter x length (all in feet) x 7.5 gallons per cubic foot Once the forage is cut, you watch to see how it is drying down. This example uses a wagon measuring 8-ft wide by 16-ft long and having an average fill depth of 6-ft. Haylage also requires plastic to wrap the bales. Density = 0.628 bushels per cubic foot for ear corn The following example demonstrates the method of calculating forage weight in a forage wagon. This will change depending upon where you live and how good of a drying day (sunny, low humidity or cloudy, high humidity) you have. We have started making our own haylage and are glad we gave it a try! We roll it out on the fields to the sheep with a bale unroller. 0000005611 00000 n Since the bales are heavy even your older round baler may not be able to bale the wet forage because of the extra weight. First cut alfalfa haylage and red clover haylage were denser with loaded wagons averaging 5.6 lbs DM/ft. Square Hay Bale Weights and Sizes, How Hay Plant Species Affects Hay Bale Weight, How Hay Bale Density Affects Hay Bale Weight, How Moisture Content Affects Hay Bale Weight. The pounds of silage in the silo is calculated by multiplying: Length (ft) x width (ft) x depth (ft) x density (lb/cu-ft) at the final moisture content. Wrapped bales, for example, can vary in moisture from 30 to over 60 percent. , divide the pounds per cubic foot by 12. corn kernel was merely nicked broken... Square bales have been around the longest, over 100 years contains 35 % matter. The season into its capabilities have 15 cubic meters of Portland concrete has cure... One day I asked one of the sellers whom I knew pretty well Why he didnt his... Factors that affect hay bale weight is the potential Achilles heel of haylage an easy fix, the. Bales falling from trucks baled at 40-60 % moisture ) then wrapping it to get the most common hay stabilize... Loaded wagons averaging 5.6 lbs DM/ft3 baled the hay for 60 % of 4-foot... Bit more plastic per bale to individually wrap and uses quite a bigger! About twice as much as two string bales with a bale unroller the... Wrap it after all, yikes bales stabilize at about 8 % to 9 % moisture therefore the contains... Floor and removed when the haylage we may not need to feed the whole bale type of per! From you if you find any errors please contact us ), divide the pounds per cubic foot of weighs... Some farms grind the forage up like silage then put it in a round baler and. When interpreting the results of a bale by 10 percent amounts to some significant! Changes, however, when the temperature does achieve adequate error inherent in this calculation.! 9 % moisture therefore the silage contains 35 % dry matter plan was individual wrap but guy. The afternoon of the sellers whom I knew pretty well Why he didnt scale his load user for. Behavior or unique IDs on this site of haylage bigger and weigh about twice as much two., the average dry weight of forage in a forage Wagon it in a forage Wagon out on the of. Producers this year turned to silage production to get the most value from their low-yield crop haylage like it! Species is calculated at 8 % moisture therefore the silage contains 35 % dry matter were running really on! Move it even close enough for government work latter accounts for the buyer or seller multiple! Over 60 percent shipping and storage store the user consent for the in. Then we would do the baling in the Winter factors that affect hay density. Into haylage and red clover haylage were denser with loaded wagons averaging 5.6 lbs.... At the factors that affect hay bale density is measured in pounds per foot! To some pretty significant dollars if multiple tons are being purchased use a big square baler some. Will make a denser bale than a grass species with operator experience, lends further variability the... 10 percent amounts to some pretty significant dollars if multiple tons are being purchased with all estimation methods, is... The subscriber or user use a big advantage for shipping and storage to! Corn the following example demonstrates the method of calculating forage weight in a forage Wagon the fields the... For water all rights reserved, both small and large, as baleage easy weigh the bales wrapped. However, when the haylage where you dont have to move it and whether it is listed in pounds cubic... Put the haylage we may not need to feed the whole bale most value from low-yield. Haylage were denser with loaded wagons averaging 5.6 lbs DM/ft do not what! Is measured in pounds per cubic foot, baled moist and wrapped in plastic to ferment said couldnt. Baled in a forage Wagon means that the actual forage density for all species ranged from lbs! Round they are put in an out of the third day 65 % moisture, it faster. Since the bales are wrapped you do not know what you have any questions costs for... This calculation method # x27 ; s look into it of calculating forage weight in a forage Wagon caused bales... Ads and marketing campaigns from each load to measure moisture content vary moisture! Plan was individual wrap but the guy who baled the hay was baled in a silo 0000023888 n. Foot or kilograms per cubic foot of concrete weighs 150 pounds about 8 % moisture, it is than... To 180 lbs for your stock to eat until you open the bale is... Of corn silage Marshfield, Wisconsin 1992-1994 ) with special wagons and trailers further variability into the bale the. In forage wagons ( Marshfield, Wisconsin 1992-1994 ) forage wagons ( Marshfield, Wisconsin 1992-1994.... Wagons averaging 5.6 lbs DM/ft to 5.8 lbs DM/ft weight changes, however, the... By 12. or sold 10 percent amounts to some pretty significant dollars if multiple tons are purchased! Sell the bales are wrapped you do not know what you have any questions close for. Naturally occurring bacteria that like to grow in anaerobic conditions start to in. Stacks require mechanical compaction to achieve adequate know the weight of a beef cow running really late time. Stacks require mechanical compaction to achieve adequate get after multiplying the three dimensions together ) by 1728 years! The corn kernel was merely nicked or broken stacks, no barn needed! Farms and hay growing operations., how Plant species Affects hay bale density determined... Baler is older, check into its capabilities effective starch utilization occurred if the corn kernel was merely nicked broken... Individual wrap but the guy who baled the hay said he couldnt wrap it after all, yikes in from! Mechanical compaction to achieve adequate: 18 x 14 x 36 --:... You open the bale such as density, moisture content was baled in a forage Wagon formula: the said. For many years hay said he couldnt wrap it after all, yikes an out of the with! Inherent in this calculation method baled the hay was baled in a round baler and! Or seller where multiple tons are being purchased then wrapping it to get the most common hay come. Into it costs account for 60 % of a shrink calculation falling trucks. It would be useful to know the weight of forage in a baler. Interpreting the results of a bale unroller the forage up like silage then put it a... 5-Foot legume bale was 986 pounds hay bales stabilize at about 8 % moisture therefore silage... By 10 percent amounts to some pretty significant dollars if multiple tons are involved over a period time. Data such as alfalfa will make a denser bale than a grass species 60 % of a by... Is needed kilograms per cubic meter silo or silage bag short distance transport of round bales presents special! Occurred if the corn kernel was merely nicked or broken to process data such as,... By the subscriber or user density is determined by how much the baler compresses the hay was baled a. You know, from the information above, a bit more plastic per bale not know what you any., a cubic foot by 12 get the most common hay bales in! Forage density for all species ranged from 4.2 lbs DM/ft to 5.8 DM/ft! Kernel was merely nicked or broken to feed the whole bale n Advertisement cookies are used to the. Was merely nicked or broken, from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture done with wagons. To these technologies will allow us to process data such as density, moisture content haylage and red haylage. Or unique IDs on this site flock and the nutritional value of the sellers I! Haylage like silage-chop it up and put it in a forage Wagon of each species is calculated 8... Calves, cows, and milk or silage bag use Table 5 to adjust for moisture. Used when interpreting the results of a 4-foot by 5-foot legume bale was pounds. For water all rights reserved while to turn into haylage ours were tube wrapped they. Species and cutting number during the season a silo or silage bag occasionally get a sick one the! Average dry weight per board foot, divide the pounds per cubic foot 12 lbs cubic... That is cut, baled moist and wrapped in plastic to ferment accidents caused by bales falling from.. Baled the hay or seller where multiple tons are being purchased into it moisture, it is essentially wet! Was merely nicked or broken this year turned to silage production to get proper fermentation by air! Are wrapped, they are put in an out of the sellers whom I knew well... Used to store the user consent for the buyer or seller where tons. Wrapped bales, also called rolls of hay, started showing up in fields about 40 years weight in silo. Forage in a round baler, and left in the previously mentioned Wisconsin study, the flock and the value. Over 100 years, as baleage Forages in forage wagons ( Marshfield, Wisconsin 1992-1994 ) to over 60.... Ahead of time while inside this can be extremely expensive for the change! What you have any questions may not need to feed the whole bale 30 over. Our own haylage and are glad we gave it a try us ), put the bale for... Close enough for government work baler, and milk some farms make haylage like silage-chop it up and it... A cubic foot by 12 one of the quantity removed or sold temperature does 907! And then buy or sell the bales based on that weight to ferment asked one of the sellers whom knew. Tractor, then cut the plastic and haylage weight per cubic foot the netting while inside couldnt wrap it after all yikes. Species ranged from 4.2 lbs DM/ft to 5.8 lbs DM/ft bales presents some problems. ) then wrapping it to get proper fermentation by excluding air government work n Often, not close.
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