“Killed a couple of ewes with big square bales. How do you feed them 100% safely?”

Published 22nd February 2024
Feeding

At Hustler Equipment, we’re not just about providing innovative solutions; we’re deeply committed to the well-being of farmers and ranchers worldwide. Social media has become a vital platform for us, not just for sharing insights but also for uncovering challenges faced by the farming community. Recently, a conversation surfaced on Facebook that caught our attention:

“Killed a couple of ewes with big square bales. How do you feed them 100% safely?”

This fair – and brave – question from a fellow farmer resonates deeply, acknowledging the rough reality of farm life. Accidents, even to the best of farmers, are an unfortunate but inevitable part of the journey.

The key is not to dwell on the mishap but to seek solutions that prioritize the safety and well-being of both livestock and those working the land. And such solutions exist, probably better ones than just “beep the horn and hope!” 

Working with the available information, it seems this sheep farmer is using square bales in outdoor feeders. Though incidents can occur with various livestock, sheep and goats, with their nimble nature and eagerness for feed, are particularly prone to finding their way into tight spaces – becoming hard to spot when working with large farm machinery.

Handling bales safely

We all know it, but it’s good to remind it. Ensuring the safety of both farmers and livestock is paramount in any agricultural operation, and heavy bales represent a hazard that can be a cause of danger and injury for both humans and livestock.

Using the right equipment minimises the risk and the physical strain on individuals, decreasing the likelihood of accidents such as slips, trips, or falls. Accidents like bales toppling over can injure or even be fatal to both humans and animals.

Having the right equipment to handle heavy bales of hay is crucial!

Consider the Hustler Softhands range, a bale grab designed to handle safely hay and silage. The Softhands LX200 Contractor’s model is specially designed to handle both round and square bales.

Also explore the new Hustler GrappleMax LX250 grapple bucket for added versatility and safety. The massive 7-feet jaw opening (2.13 m) accommodates a wider range of round and square bales as well as various materials and object sizes, even awkwardly shaped items, maintaining excellent maneuverability, saving the operator time and effort.

Feeding out into hay rings safely

If you decide to use hay rings, either indoor or outdoor, you will have to load the feeder with hay.

Stay outside the enclosure

One way to consider is to remain outside the enclosure. It may be easier in indoor feeding situations where the livestock is kept away from the feeding path or the feeder with headbails, which is a common setup in Europe.

One of our French customers is using a Hustler unroller to feed his dairy goats from the outside of the pen. It may be more challenging in outdoor situations. By placing the hay ring close to the fence, you can use a Hustler Unrolla or Chainless bale feeder mounted on a front-end loader or a telehandler to reach it.

Several of our customers chose this option, like this New Zealand horse stud using a Manitou telehandler and a Hustler Chainless bale feeder, this US stockyard using a Hustler Unrolla LX105 bale unroller on a JCB skid steer.

But staying outside the enclosure is not always a possible option.

Use a bale unroller to load the hay rings safely

When it comes to bringing hay to the livestock, it is always good to be able to remain in the tractor cab for safety reasons. That’s why lots of farmers just bring a bale inside the paddock to put it in the hay ring. You can just do that with a Hustler bale feeder/unroller! And thanks to the Hustler Snaplox auto-connect/disconnect system, no need to come out of the cab to hook your machine.

A Scottish sheep farmer using a Hustler LX105 bale unroller on the front-end loader of his tractor to load his hay rings saved his back while improving the condition of his ewes.

Other benefits of using a bale unroller

Beyond safety concerns, unrolling forage in hay rings/feeders instead of simply dumping an entire bale presents several advantages:

  • Reduced waste: unrolling minimises waste, ensuring animals consume more and leave less behind.
  • Better access: livestock experience improved access to food, reducing competition during feeding.
  • Applicability: whether you’re dealing with cattle, sheep, or horses, unrolling stands as a universally beneficial practice.

Some may think that it is a time-consuming process. But have a look at this video to see how quick it is and how much volume you can get from a bale of hay! 

Step outside the hay ring

You may also choose to ditch the hay rings completely, like British farmer Steve Hallam who adopted immediately the ground feeding system. “It was just the idea of feeding the sheep in a long line where there’s no stress with the sheep will come and eat,” he said. “We find that you’ll waste less than ring feeders”.

Rancher Stephen Gaskins from North Carolina, USA had a similar experience and found using a Hustler bale processor/feeder reduced considerably time and wastage and drastically reduced calf mortality rate. 

Maybe now is the time to rethink your hay ring process? Find out more here and download our free guide. 

Sharing is Caring

Farmers face numerous challenges, and safety should always be at the forefront. The recent question on Facebook highlights a shared responsibility within the farming community to learn from each other’s experiences and work collectively towards safer, more efficient practices.

At Hustler Equipment, we’re here not just to provide machinery but to foster an environment of shared knowledge, ensuring that every question, no matter how tough, becomes an opportunity for growth and improvement in the farming world.

If you are looking for farming equipment near you or buying livestock feeding equipment, contact our friendly team today! 

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And if you’ve heard about a good farming story, we’d like to share it! Send your ideas at marketing@hustlerequipment.com