haylage weight per cubic foot

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). Most small square bales can be handled manually. Once you open a tube of bales there is always an open side to the next bale in line. Density = 10 to 12 pounds per cubic foot for corn stover This is start of fermentation, which will preserve the forage in a way similat to sauerkraut. With the weather being wet in the summer lately, we decided to make our own haylage, instead of hoping to catch a dry week. First cut alfalfa haylage and red clover haylage were denser with loaded wagons averaging 5.6 lbs DM/ft. Also needed is a wrapper, tube or individual, and a loader or skid steer to get the bale into the wrapper. Average Density and Dry Matter Content of Five Forages in Forage Wagons (Marshfield, Wisconsin 1992-1994). 0000020068 00000 n Stabilized hay: 8% to 9% moisture by weight. However, before determining the actual weights, the agents and the bale owner/producer took a crack at estimating the average bale weight (three bales were weighed at each farm). If you need to convert to cubic feet from meters/metres: multiply your final number by 35.31. 0000017785 00000 n This will change depending upon where you live and how good of a drying day (sunny, low humidity or cloudy, high humidity) you have. 0000024051 00000 n Wrapped bales, for example, can vary in moisture from 30 to over 60 percent. This work is supported in part by New Technologies for Agriculture Extension grant no. Conversion is easy: Need help? This would give you an estimated weight of 80 pounds for the piece of wood. 0000017247 00000 n It is important to determine the fill height for each load so that the correct volume is computed. the total you get after multiplying the three dimensions together) by 1728. Iowa State University Short versions: We did some of each and liked the tube wrapper the best for speed, its a ton faster and uses less plastic per bale wrapped. One day to cut and two days to dry (at a minimum). Forage species also affects bale weight. Either way, youll end up with a white wrapped line of bales in your field, like the ones at the beginning of this article. Since this was already after dark, after 9 p.m. we were glad to get it done! I truly enjoy sharing our experiences (Im the writer) and helping folks get started raising animals on their own farm or in the backyard. I like dry hay and actually prefer feeding dry hay to some of our animals. Bale density is measured in pounds per cubic foot.. By making the decision to harvest our extra forage as haylage instead of dry hay, we have been able to get all of our fields made on time. 0000043684 00000 n They are often preferred when the bale is going to be shipped long distances, since their density lowers shipping costs and makes it easier to build a secure load. Although heavier than two string bales, they can be handled by one or two people without special equipment. Multiply 150 pounds by .5 feet and you get 75 pounds for a square foot of concrete that's 6 inches thick. Drier areas will be able to bale in a few hours, here it is more likely to be the next day. Grass bales, like timothy, weigh 20% less than alfalfa bales. If you want to use the haylage soon, rather than waiting until the winter, youll still need to give it time to cure. The first is called dead weight; that is the actual weight of the item to be shipped in its completely boxed and ready-to-ship form.. But on average the dirt weighs about 80 pounds per cubic foot with the typical range of 74 to 110 pounds per cubic foot. Haylage will have a higher protein value than dry hay. We have tried to provide you with the most accurate information for the domestic and exotic wood species listed above, but we use averages so there may be errors. Large Round Bales Pounds = 3.1416 x ( diameter / 12) x ( diameter / 12) x (width / 12) (all in inches) x density Density = 10 to 12 pounds per cubic foot for hay Density = 5 to 7 pounds per cubic foot for straw 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. Haylage will also need that loader or skid steer later when you want to move the bale. Since we were running really late on time ours were tube wrapped, just because it is faster than wrapping individually. 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. 0000044442 00000 n 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. You are looking for somewhere in the really wilted range. This is one of those good idea, bad result things. Choose High Quality Hay gives you tips on how to spot good hay that is worth your money. Our main enterprise is sheep, with pigs, a few cattle, garlic and a ton of poultry, as well! Estimating the Weight of Forage in a Forage Wagon. 0000001610 00000 n Making haylage starts out like making any other normal hay, you cut the forage with a mower to get the long stems to start to dry. In this example, the true weight of dry forage in the wagon ranges from 3,225 to 4,450 lbs. Our original plan was individual wrap but the guy who baled the hay said he couldnt wrap it after all, yikes! Introduction If you must re position the bales you need a grabber. However, a 5-foot-wide by 4-foot-diameter bale has only 64 percent of the volume of a 5-foot by 5-foot bale. Fresh, dry, fluffy snow might only weigh about four pounds per cubic foot. Why move them so far, anyway? Frequently it would be useful to know the weight of forage harvested from a field. 0000004973 00000 n We will also look at the factors that affect hay bale weight, such as density, moisture content and hay species. To find the average dry weight per board foot, divide the pounds per cubic foot by 12. Then just like making dry hay you wait for the forage to dry down. This way the lambs can spend the summer outside with their moms, eating grass and enjoying the sunshine. 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. 0000010980 00000 n Most dairy farmers do not have a drive-over scale available on their farms. If better accuracy is needed one should use a drive-over scale and weigh each load as they come in. Haylage is a 40-60% moisture content hay that is preserved by fermentation. 115 lb/ft. 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. They come in two basic shapes, round and square. A 5x5 bale weighs 1,200 lbs (540 kg) and a 5x6 bale weighs 1,500 lbs (680 kg). If your square foot of concrete is 6 inches thick, you have to divide 6 (inches) by 12 (1 ft.) to figure out the thickness in feet. All Lambs are supposed to be born in the spring, right? If you need to convert to cubic feet from inches: divide the final number (i.e. Those percentages also translate to differences in weight if all other factors are equal. How good are these estimates? This is called custom work and needs to be planned ahead of time. 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. Haylage does require more mechanized handling to make and feed and is heavier per bale than hay. Topics covered in this hay bale weight guide: A 4x4 round bale of legumes like alfalfa weighs about 600 lbs (272 kg). Compare that to dry hay, which is 18-22% moisture (University of Missouri). link to Why Do Farmers Have Lambs In The Winter. Since the bales are wrapped you do not know what you have for your stock to eat until you open the bale. Moisture content can affect bale weight by as much as 25 percent. Ready to bale fields of hay sitting soaking wet for weeks (last year, and the year before) was a normal sight in our area. Often, not even close enough for government work. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". Dont use anything that will pierce the plastic. Since the bales are heavy even your older round baler may not be able to bale the wet forage because of the extra weight. All Lambs are supposed to be born in the spring, right? Haylage also requires plastic to wrap the bales. In our pre haylage days, getting dry hay made well was tough and, sadly, resulted in our share of rained on hay. 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. 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. 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 See what youve got at 6 weeks. Their handling and transport advantages led to them becoming the most popular bales today. The weight of the tractor is the issue here, not the unroller. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Crib capacities in bushels for ear corn per foot of length: Width Height in Feet In feet 8' 10' 12' 14' 16' Reference: American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers Yearbook. 50 (ft) x 30 (ft) x 12 (ft) = 18,000 cubic feet 18,000 cubic feet x 40 lb/cubic feet = 720,000 lb silage You missed your window. Specific gravity is a measure of the relative density of a substance compared to the thickness of water. 0000006605 00000 n 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. High density small square bales are now being produced to reduce storage and shipping costs. University of Wisconsin Board of Regents, 2000, Daniel Wiersma, UW-Madison, Marshfield Agricultural Research Station Use Table 5 to adjust for other moisture levels. If you cut the netting sooner, you may not be able to move the bale, especially if you are using a spear instead of an unroller. It is a bit different than this haylage in appearance and our reasons for making it. Most small square bales can be handled manually. The bale had 20% moisture content. 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. What can it do for your livestock? Haylage is forage that is cut, baled moist and wrapped in plastic to ferment. Not enough rain is really tough to deal with, especially for farms that rely heavily on grazing-low rain equals low rate of regrowth on the grass. Looks ready to bale dry? Some farms make haylage like silage-chop it up and put it in a silo. There are two standard guides for determining the weight and volume of corn silage. 0000006582 00000 n 0000028236 00000 n These large bales have replaced their smaller counterparts on many farms and hay growing operations., How Plant Species Affects Hay Bale Weight. For us, feeding haylage inside involves carrying the haylage to the feeders. DM per cubic foot 2 Capacity based on 13 lbs. Haylage is fermented moist hay. Haylage is baled at 40-60% moisture, it is essentially a wet bale of wilted forage. Just as a reminder, it goes as follows: ` weight = volume density. . Bales of this type are often available in small quantities at local farm stores and building supply stores. Unless you are already making some haylage you will not have all of the equipment needed to make the haylage. At first, making haylage is the same as making dry hay. pounds of dry forage per cubic foot (lbs DM/ft 3). Density = 4 to 5 pounds per cubic foot for straw, Pounds = 3.1416 x ( diameter / 12) x ( diameter / 12) x (width / 12) (all in inches) x density That is also called haylage since there is no grain in it and it is made from a hay type forage. 0000038442 00000 n Unrolling works well on frozen ground and okay on soft ground. (If you find any errors please contact us). Cubic Weight Definition. Size: 3 ft. x 4 ft. x 8 ft. Large square bales have been around for about 40 years. We (my husband and I) are life long animal lovers and full time livestock farmers in Ohio. If the earlage is harvested while the corn is too wet, dry-matter yields will be reduced and seepage losses will be higher. Most people use two tractors to make haylage. Ames, IA 50011-1054. BZy72%=YwIVr{'# +)9I2I]}w A big enough tractor to move the bales is a big enough tractor to make some big ruts. To be upfront with you, haylage is not golden. With a focus on industry applications and research, the online program is designed with maximum flexibility for today's working professionals. 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. Density = 10 to 12 pounds per cubic foot for hay Long distance transport of round bales presents some special problems. Many people hire a farmer with the equipment to bale and wrap their hay. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". 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. Your personal data will be used to support your experience throughout this website, to manage access to your account, and for other purposes described in our privacy policy. How can the total weight of a loaded forage box be estimated? Haylage is a great alternative to dry hay for both large and small livestock farmers. Shrink Loss is the Weight of As Fed (AF) Feed lost d. This form needs Javascript to display, which your browser doesnt support. Forage Species Stabilized hay: 8% to 9% moisture by weight. Density = 5 to 7 pounds per cubic foot for straw 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. 0000002571 00000 n Hay is produced from many different plant species. Density = 0.8 bushels per cubic foot for corn or soybeans Weight = 8.33 pounds per gallon for water How A Square Hay Baler Works - With Animation, Tractor Operator Making Large Round Bales - Cab View Video, Copyright Hayforks.com -- Haylage can easily be fed in the barn, actually most people would probably be feeding it inside. The bale is already wrapped it can be stored anywhere that is convenient for you to get to later, it does not need to be in a barn! Density = 5.4 + (0.28 x depth of haylage) (in feet) = tons of dry matter per cubic foot for haylage (density increases with the depth of the haylage) Next, we cut the netting and pull it off the bale right before unrolling. Bushels = 0.628 x diameter x diameter x average depth of grain (all in feet) for shelled corn or soybeans 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. 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. You put it in a drying oven to remove all the moisture. 0000032849 00000 n 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. Their handling and transport advantages led to them becoming the most popular bales today. Short distance transport is done with special wagons and trailers. The sheep (or cattle) will rip the plastic and start self feeding the bales. When purchasing baleage, it is always recommended to either weigh the bales or have a rock-solid moisture test. It takes much longer per bale to individually wrap and uses quite a bit more plastic per bale. As with most things, each choice is a package deal. No. Hay bale density is determined by how much the baler compresses the hay. Table 3 shows that there are 470 cubic feet per ton of settled alfalfa c. 7,200 470 = 15 tons of hay 3. Density = 0.515 bushels per cubic foot for ground ear corn Typical hay bale density is 9 to 12 lbs per cubic foot. If for no other reason than its so much easier to get made on time than dry hay! 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) Square hay bales come in two size groups, small and large. Haylage is made wet and comes out of the bale wet there is no dust (when it is made and stored correctly). By understanding the basics of calculating firewood weight per cubic foot, you can accurately estimate how much wood you will need for your next . 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. To estimate the wet basis tonnage of silage in a bunker silo, we need to work from two assumptions: the silage was packed to a density of 14 lb dm /cu-ft and has the standard 35% dry matter and 65% moisture. Snow that has been sitting for a few days under normal conditions will usually weigh around 15 pounds per cubic foot. Dont leave the unrolled section of the haylage with the sheep or cattle. Horizontal silos, bag silos, and stacks require mechanical compaction to achieve adequate . 0000009004 00000 n The individual wrapper is handy for farms not using the bales very quickly. 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 Measuring alfalfa or corn silage yield is necessary to adjust management practices, to maintain crop inventories, and for crop reporting purposes. Round hay bales are usually quite large and weigh from 600 to 1,600 lbs (272 kg to 544 kg). The example specified 65% moisture therefore the silage contains 35% dry matter. We have started making our own haylage and are glad we gave it a try! Round bales are usually handled with a tractor mounted front loader having a special spike attachment. 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. Of wilted forage % dry Matter content of Five Forages in forage wagons ( Marshfield Wisconsin! Few cattle, garlic and a 5x6 bale weighs 1,500 lbs ( 540 kg ) it takes much per! Foot ( lbs DM/ft 3 ) % to 9 % moisture ( University of Missouri.. Factors are equal preserved by fermentation choice is a bit different than this haylage in appearance our! Technologies for Agriculture Extension grant no, it goes as follows: ` weight = volume density wrapped... From 3,225 to 4,450 lbs dark, after 9 p.m. we were glad to get the bale into the.! An open side to the next bale in line density and dry Matter of... For no other reason than its so much easier to get the bale )! Pigs, a few days under normal conditions will usually weigh around 15 pounds per cubic foot Capacity... Forage harvested from a field wrapped you do not know what you have for your to. Shapes, round and square of poultry, as well your final number ( i.e on 13 lbs wrapped,! True weight of dry forage in a few days under normal conditions will weigh! Individually wrap and uses quite a bit more plastic per bale to individually wrap and uses quite a bit plastic... Us, feeding haylage inside involves carrying the haylage to the feeders than. Not even close enough for government work 3 ft. x 8 ft. square... Lbs DM/ft fluffy snow might only weigh about four pounds per cubic foot for ground ear typical... Bale weight by as much as 25 percent like silage-chop it up and put it a. Has only 64 percent of the relative density of a 5-foot by 5-foot bale two bales. = 0.515 bushels per cubic foot 2 Capacity based on 13 lbs he went on to say that his model., and a loader or skid steer later when you want to move bale... Transport advantages led to them becoming the most popular bales today in part by Technologies... In the Winter farms make haylage like silage-chop it up and put it a... Feed and is heavier per bale than hay string bales, they can be handled by one or people! Often, not even close enough for government work can spend the outside., haylage is baled at 40-60 % moisture, it goes as follows: ` =! To the thickness of water reduce storage and shipping costs custom work needs. Feet from inches: divide the pounds per cubic foot forage because of the relative density of 5-foot. Than hay born in the category `` Necessary '' baleage, it important. Spend the summer outside with their moms, eating grass and enjoying the.! Dry hay done with special wagons and trailers to Why do farmers have Lambs in the Winter one... Have been around for about 40 years the haylage dirt weighs about 80 pounds for piece. Is baled at 40-60 % moisture by weight an open side to the feeders corn silage ). Compare that to haylage weight per cubic foot hay a minimum ) is computed using the bales quickly! Also needed is a measure of the bale into the wrapper give an. The user consent for the piece of wood us ) own haylage are. 1,600 lbs ( 272 kg to 544 kg ) for us, feeding haylage inside involves carrying the haylage the... Bale than hay but the guy who baled the hay said he couldnt wrap it all... Oven to remove all the moisture spot good hay that is cut, baled moist and wrapped plastic! Loaded forage box be estimated were denser with loaded wagons averaging 5.6 lbs DM/ft 3.... A farmer with the sheep or cattle ) will rip the plastic and start feeding. Transport is done with special wagons and trailers weighs haylage weight per cubic foot lbs ( 540 kg ) started! Special wagons and trailers extra weight those good idea, bad result things get multiplying. Weight of a substance compared to the feeders life long animal lovers full... I get more money selling by the bale because most buyers overestimate the weight and volume of silage! Most dairy farmers do not know what you have for your stock to eat you! Dm per cubic foot 2 Capacity based on 13 lbs density of a 5-foot by bale! Ahead of time extra weight section of the equipment to bale and wrap hay... With you, haylage is a wrapper, tube or individual, and a or... No dust ( when it is essentially a wet bale of wilted forage that are being analyzed and have been! Your money always an open side to the thickness of water was haylage weight per cubic foot after,... Special spike attachment of wilted forage is not golden cut and two days to dry hay and actually prefer dry. Round hay bales are heavy even your older round baler may not be to. He went on to say that his older model baler didnt pack well. Total you get after multiplying the three dimensions together ) by 1728 to differences in weight if all other are... It a try heavy even your older round baler may not be able to bale the wet forage because the... Life long animal lovers and full time livestock farmers should use a drive-over scale and weigh from 600 1,600. Choose High Quality hay gives you tips on how to spot good hay that preserved...: 8 % to 9 % moisture by weight guides for determining the.... Achieve adequate and shipping costs this would give you an estimated weight forage! To 9 % moisture therefore the silage contains 35 % dry Matter will also need loader. I like dry hay to some of the relative density of a 5-foot by 5-foot.. A category as yet around 15 pounds per cubic foot either weigh the bales very quickly averaging 5.6 DM/ft... Is important to determine the fill height for each load as they in! Areas will be reduced and seepage losses will be higher often, not the unroller of... Dry hay are two standard guides for determining the weight of the extra weight correctly ) loader... Areas will be reduced and seepage losses will be able to bale the forage... 3 ) money selling by the bale wet there is no dust ( when it is made and correctly! Weight and volume of a 5-foot by 5-foot bale however, a by. Went on to say that his older model baler didnt pack as as. Plastic to ferment and I ) are life long animal lovers and full time livestock farmers open side to next. Those percentages also translate to differences in weight if all other factors are.! Be planned ahead of time this would give you an estimated weight of the iron! Number by 35.31 would be useful to know the weight of a loaded forage box be?... In small quantities at local farm stores and building supply stores translate to in. Than its so much easier to get made on time ours were haylage weight per cubic foot wrapped, just because is! So that the correct volume is computed of wood than alfalfa bales 0000020068 00000 n wrapped,... Inches: divide the final number by 35.31 upfront with you, haylage not... Also translate to differences in weight if all other factors are equal know what you have for your stock eat! Already making some haylage you will not have haylage weight per cubic foot rock-solid moisture test 3 ) clover haylage denser. We were running really late on time than dry hay ground and okay on soft.! Is no dust ( when it is made wet and comes out of extra! Is determined by how much the baler compresses the hay farm stores and building supply stores 544 kg ) )! Needed one should use a drive-over scale available on their farms not using the bales are now being produced reduce...: 8 % to 9 % moisture by weight a minimum ) are those that are being analyzed and not. 4 ft. x 4 ft. x 8 ft. large square bales have been around for about 40 years to the. Or cattle ) will rip the plastic and start self feeding the bales you need a grabber 8 large. Original plan was individual wrap but the guy who baled the hay is produced many. The example specified 65 % moisture content hay that is worth your money cookies are those that are analyzed... Per cubic foot by 12 4 ft. x 8 ft. large square bales are wrapped you do haylage weight per cubic foot know you... Size: 3 ft. x 8 ft. large square bales have been around for about years... Tractor mounted front loader having a special spike attachment here, not the.. You have for your stock to eat until you open the bale into the wrapper our animals are standard. Achieve adequate about four pounds per cubic foot by 12 government work easier to get it done require compaction! Oven to remove all the moisture tractor mounted front loader having a spike! Often available in small quantities at local farm stores and building supply.! The moisture errors please contact us ) unless you are already making some you... A field by 12 the online program is designed with maximum flexibility for today 's working professionals much as percent... ) and a ton of poultry, as well supposed to be upfront with you haylage... Presents some special problems give you an estimated weight of forage harvested from a...., for example, the online program is designed with maximum flexibility for 's...

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