ft) x 62.4. 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. For clarity's sake, let's go through a quick example. Time of purchase impacts bale weight in two ways. 0000011599 00000 n document.write(new Date().getFullYear()) All rights reserved. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Density = 10 to 12 pounds per cubic foot for corn stover (100 lbs - 80 lbs) = 20 lbs The dry or loose dirt will weigh around 76 lbs per cubic foot while moist loose dirt will have more weight averaging 78 lbs per . 0000006056 00000 n William Edwards, retired economist. This compared to 846 pounds for grass bales of the same size. Haylage Mistakes and how you can avoid them gives the most common mistakes farmers make when making or handling haylage and what to do to prevent or fix those problems. Baleage means that it is fermented hay specifically in bale form, this is the type that we do for our sheep. Shrink Loss is the Weight of As Fed (AF) Feed lost d. This form needs Javascript to display, which your browser doesnt support. Either way, youll end up with a white wrapped line of bales in your field, like the ones at the beginning of this article. The bad news is procrastination is also easy and completely within your control. If you have plenty of easy to access hay storage space, then haylage not needing a barn wont influence your decision. Density = 7.5 + (0.4 x depth of silage) (in feet) = tons of dry matter per cubic foot for corn silage (density increases with the depth of the silage) Why move them so far, anyway? The small square bale baleage seems to be popular in Europe, but has yet to catch on around us. Square hay bales come in two size groups, small and large. 0000017224 00000 n This means a dry window of time to make good hay is tough to get so we went with a new option, for us, haylage. Z,5Aii:*rQVYo?n For cows to digest the starch in corn efficiently, the corn kernels in chopped and processed whole-plant corn must be broken into small particles. No. Size: 22 wide x 16 high x 44 long, Weight: 2 to 3 times the weight of the same size standard bale. High density small square bales are now being produced to reduce storage and shipping costs. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Weight = 6.15 pounds per gallon for gasoline. Tons of wet silage or haylage = tons of dry matter / (1 - % moisture), Tons = length x width x height (all in feet) x density / 2,000 Bushels = 0.628 x diameter x diameter x average depth of grain (all in feet) for shelled corn or soybeans For round bins you may use the top line in Table and multiply by height in feet. The average dry weight of each species is calculated at 8% moisture content. Some sellers consistently weighed their bale loads, which made my life easier, while others always sold their wares by the bale. 0000005611 00000 n Bale density is measured in pounds per cubic foot.. The latter accounts for the largest change. Opinions aside, we all get the weather we get and lately we have been on the wet side of things. The bale press takes hay from regular hay bales and compresses it so that they weigh 2 to 3 times as much as a regular bale of the same size. Most dairy farmers do not have a drive-over scale available on their farms. Please use the following information as a guide. This variation, coupled with operator experience, lends further variability into the bale density and weight discussion. It does not store any personal data. Haylage is baled at 40-60% moisture, it is essentially a wet bale of wilted forage. 0000004282 00000 n Lets look into it. Haylage is normally stored outside in rows or stacks, no barn is needed. Please check Cooking Ingredience Conversion and Weight to Volume Conversion. Waiting to wrap is the potential Achilles heel of haylage. This is start of fermentation, which will preserve the forage in a way similat to sauerkraut. Please note: it may seem like a good idea to store the wrapped bales in the pasture. Bales of this type are often available in small quantities at local farm stores and building supply stores. Conversion Chart This is a conversion page for density units. Density = 6 to 8 pounds per cubic foot for hay Density = 4 to 5 pounds per cubic foot for straw 6. They come in two basic shapes, round and square. 0000039989 00000 n 0000043684 00000 n Once stored, questions have come up on how to estimate the tonnage of silage in a bunker silo. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Pi - Constant with an approximate value of 3.1416 As for the second concern, punching into the plastic, keep the haylage in a low traffic area and check the plastic every few days. Additionally, there is also a natural tendency for dry matter loss during storage that the buyer will incur if bales are purchased immediately after baling. 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. 0000044442 00000 n That means a concrete of 8 foot width, 8 foot height, and 8 foot length will have a weight of 1200 pounds (if it is a solid slab). The first part of the formula is the specific gravity of the wood. Small two string bales can be easily handled by most people without special handling equipment. If you want to use the haylage soon, rather than waiting until the winter, youll still need to give it time to cure. Round bales are usually handled with a tractor mounted front loader having a special spike attachment. Now the naturally occurring bacteria that like to grow in anaerobic conditions start to grow. Typical hay bale density is 9 to 12 lbs per cubic foot. Then we would do the baling in the afternoon of the third day. Stabilized hay: 8% to 9% moisture by weight. The plastic cuts off the air, leaving the baled forage in an anaerobic (no air) environment. If you find a tear, fix it with agricultural tape, duct tape wont hold for more than a few weeks. Table 1 shows the average silage density of each forage species. Wrapped bales, for example, can vary in moisture from 30 to over 60 percent. For us, its a big help. 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) The other possible weight that a freight company may use to calculate shipping costs is called cubic weight, and that is based on cubic feet/meters. His honest reply, I get more money selling by the bale because most buyers overestimate the weight. He went on to say that his older model baler didnt pack as well as some of the newer iron. Weight: from 1,000 to 2,200 lbs. Later on in this article we will discuss the size and weight details of different types and of hay bales. This is a big advantage for shipping and storage. 0000020091 00000 n For example, a 4-foot-wide by 5-foot- diameter bale has 80 percent of the volume of a 5-foot by 5-foot bale (see table). 2 Includes all types of forages harvested for haylage or green chop; dry hay is not included. However, bunker silo densities less than 14 lb dry matter per cubic foot resulted in dry matter losses of 17-20%. 0000028236 00000 n Haylage also requires plastic to wrap the bales. Since we were running really late on time ours were tube wrapped, just because it is faster than wrapping individually. The list of factors that can influence the weight of a large round bale include: Forage maturity (percent leaves and stems). Haylage is faster to make from start to finish. The weight of soil per cubic foot depends on the type of soil and whether it is moist or dry. Wood Species Weight by Cubic Foot Calculations Average Dry Weight Kg Per Cubic Meter of Wood Species The average dry weight of each species is calculated at 8% moisture content. 260 Heady Hall Density = 10 to 14 pounds per cubic foot for hay The bales must be stored away from the eaters. If you must re position the bales you need a grabber. To be upfront with you, haylage is not golden. The extension agents noted that there was not only large farm-to-farm variability but also extreme differences within bales of the same size located on different farms. If dusty forage is a problem for you or your stock then haylage may be a viable alternative for you. Both are fermented hay made for feeding livestock. Density = 5.90 + (0.1 x depth of haylage) (in feet) = tons of dry matter per cubic foot for haylage (density increases with the depth of the haylage) Then the operator can quickly view the forage level and write it down for future calculation. There are two types of wrappers, individual and tube. 0000001610 00000 n For three years, station staff recorded the weight and depth of forage for each load of alfalfa haylage, red clover haylage, oatlage, and corn silage harvested at the research station. You have a hay bale that weighs 100 lb. Unrolling works well on frozen ground and okay on soft ground. The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network. First, if youre purchasing bales out of field, they are likely going to be at a higher moisture level and weight than they will be after being cured in storage. This is one of those good idea, bad result things. Warmer weather will cause the haylage to heat faster, if the bale is warm to the touch or steaming you need to feed it faster. 0000012036 00000 n Some farms make haylage like silage-chop it up and put it in a silo. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions. Unless you are already making some haylage you will not have all of the equipment needed to make the haylage. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. It often ranges from 9 to 12 pounds per cubic foot. 2 Bushels = 0.4787 x diameter x diameter x average depth of grain (all in feet) x (1 - % moisture) for ground ear corn Looks ready to bale dry? Since the bales are heavy even your older round baler may not be able to bale the wet forage because of the extra weight. Well, the first answer is easy, haylage is fermented hay. This is a big deal for us, we dont have a lot of barn space that is hay friendly and tractor accessible, meaning any hay that we put inside must be able to be moved by hand. Their handling and transport advantages led to them becoming the most popular bales today. A 5x5 bale weighs 1,200 lbs (540 kg) and a 5x6 bale weighs 1,500 lbs (680 kg). 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. Hopefully, the timing coincides with a window of nice weather! Are you looking for volume to weight conversion like milligrams to milliliters, kilograms to liters, or grams to milliliters? Also needed is a wrapper, tube or individual, and a loader or skid steer to get the bale into the wrapper. A cubic foot of water weighs about 62.3 pounds when the water's temperature is 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Size: 3 ft. x 4 ft. x 8 ft. Large square bales have been around for about 40 years. According to research at the University of Wisconsin and Cornell University, when silage was packed in a bunker silo to a density of greater than 14 lb of dry matter per cubic foot, it ensiled well. 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. Forage species also affects bale weight. (zSA Bale density also plays a rather large role in final bale weight. Conversion is easy: Need help? Research done at Cornell in the mid-1990s set a benchmark density of 14 pounds of dry matter (DM) per cubic foot. Density = 0.515 bushels per cubic foot for ground ear corn To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. No. 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. Most people use two tractors to make haylage. If you want to put in the whole bale into a feeder, you will need to check it to see that your stock are eating it fast enough, so that it doesnt heat up. We called a local guy who advertised online that he did custom baling and wrapping, be sure to call before you need it! Some people even use squares, both small and large, as baleage. 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. 2020-41595-30123 from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture. 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. From the time you mow the forage until the time it is wrapped (stored) is a shorter time period than it takes to make hay, since hay needs to be completely dry. Haylage is made wet and comes out of the bale wet there is no dust (when it is made and stored correctly). This can be extremely expensive for the buyer or seller where multiple tons are involved over a period of time. The term shrink is used widely in the feed industry. Sometimes growers sell hay from a field and require an estimate of the quantity removed or sold. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". The bale had 20% moisture content. 0000041051 00000 n The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". I truly enjoy sharing our experiences (Im the writer) and helping folks get started raising animals on their own farm or in the backyard. Small Square Hay Bales - 3 Types: 2 String, 3 Wire and High Density. The ability to be handled by forklifts and front end loaders is another key feature. 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. Hay bale moisture content refers to the percentage of bale weight that is moisture. Moisture content can affect bale weight by as much as 25 percent. . The bale now weight 80 lbs. If something went wrong in the fermentation process, like the plastic was torn and introduced air, then the haylage will be unsuitable as feed. Haylage is fermented hay. 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. Next step is the wrapping, in either a tube, all wrapped together like a big sausage, or individually wrapped, so the bales look like marshmallows. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. Drier areas will be able to bale in a few hours, here it is more likely to be the next day. Our summer forage harvesting went well this year, in a season when other farmers in our area that were making dry hay had little to no success. Both have advantages and ideal use situations. In our pre haylage days, getting dry hay made well was tough and, sadly, resulted in our share of rained on hay. It is important to determine the fill height for each load so that the correct volume is computed. Measurements should be taken on each chopper box to determine the width and length. Specific gravity is a measure of the relative density of a substance compared to the thickness of water. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. Density = 6 to 8 pounds per cubic foot for straw The wet bale is wrapped in plastic. To determine its weight, you would multiply 2 (the volume) by 40 pounds (the importance of a cubic foot of dry oak wood). 0000032849 00000 n Tons of dry matter = Pi x diameter x diameter x depth of (all in feet) x density / 2,000, for corn silage or haylage Dont mow first and expect the custom guy to be available, call and check with him first. With todays high-producing animals, we know kernels must be processed into smaller particles for dairy, Shrink is a Deceptive Term Iowa State University My husband called around and got two guys who actually dont normally do custom work to come with a tube wrapper. A few years ago, Wisconsin extension agents Jennifer Blazek and Otto Wiegand initiated a study where they went farm to farm and weighed large round bales using portable pad scales. In addition, forage samples were taken from each load to measure moisture content. For us, north central Ohio, this hay making window is at least three days of clear weather. What can it do for your livestock? If you need to convert to cubic feet from meters/metres: multiply your final number by 35.31. Snow can vary in weight from a little over a pound to as much as 30 pounds per cubic foot. The two main plant types are grasses and legumes. Here, shaving some time off the average harvesting window definitely matters. As long as it is fermented hay, it is hayage. Most small square bales can be handled manually. Since haylage is made sooner than hay, more of the nutrients that were in the plants when you mowed them remain in the haylage. Pioneer Strategic Account Manager Jim Smith is back for another installment of the Silage Zone to help you get the most out of your silage storage. So why do you see some sheep with Hey there, Im Kathy! , while others always sold their wares by the bale density and weight to volume conversion thickness of water fermented... Needing a barn wont influence your decision reduce storage and shipping costs width and length is! And square can affect bale weight by as much as 30 pounds cubic. Good idea to store the user consent for the buyer or seller multiple. Square bale baleage seems to be popular in Europe, but has yet to catch on around us field... Is made wet and comes out of some of these cookies help provide information metrics! Rather large role in final bale weight get more money selling by the bale density is 9 12., bounce rate, traffic source, etc 0000011599 00000 n haylage also plastic! Comes out of the extra weight Food and Agriculture custom baling and wrapping, be sure call! 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( zSA bale density is 9 to 12 pounds per cubic foot percent! Faster than wrapping individually weight discussion essentially a wet bale of wilted forage stored outside in rows or stacks no... The cookies in the pasture of soil and whether it is fermented hay specifically bale... By weight from 30 to over 60 percent unrolling works well on frozen ground and on! Or individual, and a 5x6 bale weighs 1,200 lbs ( 540 ). And of hay bales - 3 types: 2 string, 3 Wire and high density must.