haylage weight per cubic foot

Most hay bales stabilize at about 8% to 9% moisture content. Crib capacities in bushels for ear corn per foot of length: Width Height in Feet In feet 8' 10' 12' 14' 16' 0000012036 00000 n Conversion is easy: Need help? A 4 ft wide x 5 ft high round legume hay bale may weigh 1,000 lbs. 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. Let's say we have 15 cubic meters of Portland concrete. This variation, coupled with operator experience, lends further variability into the bale density and weight discussion. I truly enjoy sharing our experiences (Im the writer) and helping folks get started raising animals on their own farm or in the backyard. 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 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. The small square bale baleage seems to be popular in Europe, but has yet to catch on around us. Alfalfa bales are about 15% heavier than the same size bale of timothy. Short distance transport is done with special wagons and trailers. This is a big advantage for shipping and storage. Grass forages were less dense and averaged 4.6 lbs DM/ft. Haylage is a 40-60% moisture content hay that is preserved by fermentation. Table 3 shows that there are 470 cubic feet per ton of settled alfalfa c. 7,200 470 = 15 tons of hay 3. In addition, forage samples were taken from each load to measure moisture content. 2 Includes all types of forages harvested for haylage or green chop; dry hay is not included. Fresh baled hay is usually around 18% to 20%. 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) 2 Bushels = 0.7436 x diameter x diameter x average depth of grain (all in feet) x (1 - % moisture) for shelled corn The latter accounts for the largest change. lb/ft - Pound Per Cubic Foot. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. This is because legumes such as alfalfa will make a denser bale than a grass species. Haylage will also need that loader or skid steer later when you want to move the bale. Here is where haylage making veers off of normal hay making, you only want the haylage to dry down to 45-55% moisture. 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 weight changes, however, when the temperature does. Iowa State University Density = 10 to 12 pounds per cubic foot for hay Cooler water is denser than warmer water, so if the temperature of the water is less . Oatlage: What Is It? Once stored, questions have come up on how to estimate the tonnage of silage in a bunker silo. University of Wisconsin Board of Regents, 2000, Daniel Wiersma, UW-Madison, Marshfield Agricultural Research Station Yikes, high stress and low quality results! Welcome to the amazing world of wild creatures. Next, we cut the netting and pull it off the bale right before unrolling. Both are fermented hay made for feeding livestock. 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. pounds of dry forage per cubic foot (lbs DM/ft 3). Moisture content can affect bale weight by as much as 25 percent. For example the silo is 50 feet long by 30 feet wide and the silage averages 12 feet deep. The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user. 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. That is a bit different than this, so well stick to haylage in the form of baleage. 0000006605 00000 n We teach, learn, lead and serve, connecting people with the University of Wisconsin, and engaging with them in transforming lives and communities. Table 1 shows the average silage density of each forage species. A 4 ft wide x 5 ft high round legume hay bale may weigh 1,000 lbs. Since it refers to the weight before and after a process, the moisture content and moisture content change can significantly affect the result. We have started making our own haylage and are glad we gave it a try! This will change depending upon where you live and how good of a drying day (sunny, low humidity or cloudy, high humidity) you have. &== bfi:2q~~q8]_Bb2. While this calculation is better than a guess, it does not provide the accuracy required for sale of forage or yield checks. 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! See what youve got at 6 weeks. The bad news is procrastination is also easy and completely within your control. 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. Here, shaving some time off the average harvesting window definitely matters. Haylage is made by baling the forage when wet (45-55% moisture) then wrapping it to get proper fermentation by excluding air. When raising sheep, you occasionally get a sick one. The wet bale is wrapped in plastic. Copyright 1995-document.write(new Date().getFullYear()) A newer baler should be able to work for you without worry. They both started out the same but the results are significantly different as far as taste, thanks to the fermentation process. Well, the first answer is easy, haylage is fermented hay. 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. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. 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. 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). When raising sheep, you occasionally get a sick one. DM per cubic foot Silage Storage Safely minimize shrink and preserve quality in storing silage. Size:: 18 x 14 x 36 -- weight: 120 to 180 lbs. Haylage has a higher feed value than dry hay. Thanks for stopping by! 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. Horizontal silos, bag silos, and stacks require mechanical compaction to achieve adequate . This is start of fermentation, which will preserve the forage in a way similat to sauerkraut. Unrolling works well on frozen ground and okay on soft ground. 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 This example uses a wagon measuring 8-ft wide by 16-ft long and having an average fill depth of 6-ft. 0000002315 00000 n Are you looking for volume to weight conversion like milligrams to milliliters, kilograms to liters, or grams to milliliters? These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. The good parts and the not so good parts come together, so lets look at some of the pros and cons of both haylage compared to hay. Making Sure Your Kernel Processor Is Doing Its Job We (my husband and I) are life long animal lovers and full time livestock farmers in Ohio. Size: 22 wide x 16 high x 44 long, Weight: 2 to 3 times the weight of the same size standard bale. weight before drying - weight after drying /weight before drying = moisture content percentage Wrapped bales, for example, can vary in moisture from 30 to over 60 percent. Averaged over all species andcuttings, the density of forage in a wagon was 5.0 pounds of dry forage per cubic foot (lbs DM/ft). Then the operator can quickly view the forage level and write it down for future calculation. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Cut the netting immediately before unrolling the bale. The following example demonstrates the method of calculating forage weight in a forage wagon. All Lambs are supposed to be born in the spring, right? 0000017785 00000 n Drier areas will be able to bale in a few hours, here it is more likely to be the next day. So, why on earth would you want to do this haylage stuff when dry hay works just fine? To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Weight = 7.15 pounds per gallon for diesel fuel (at room temperature) Hay bale moisture content refers to the percentage of bale weight that is moisture. 0000020091 00000 n (20 lbs / 100 lbs) = 20%. Typical hay bale density is 9 to 12 lbs per cubic foot. 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. 0000012794 00000 n As for the second concern, punching into the plastic, keep the haylage in a low traffic area and check the plastic every few days. 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. 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. Freight transportation companies charge one of two rates for shipping. Density = 10 to 14 pounds per cubic foot for hay To convert from 14 lb/cu-ft (dry basis) to the wet basis weight at 65% moisture, divide the dry matter weight (lb/cu-ft) by the final dry matter content in the product. Tons of wet silage or haylage = tons of dry matter / (1 - % moisture), Tons of dry matter = Length x width x depth of corn silage (all in feet) x density / 2,000 link to How Do You Know If A Sheep Is Sick? dwiersma@facstaff.wisc.edu. Here well focus only on the baled haylage. Also needed is a wrapper, tube or individual, and a loader or skid steer to get the bale into the wrapper. William Edwards, retired economist. A 4x5 bale weighs 950 lbs (430 kg). This work is supported in part by New Technologies for Agriculture Extension grant no. Please use the following information as a guide. Round bales are usually handled with a tractor mounted front loader having a special spike attachment. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Data was summarized by crop species and cutting number during the season. Choose High Quality Hay gives you tips on how to spot good hay that is worth your money. 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. The two main plant types are grasses and legumes. It looks like nothing was found at this location. If dusty forage is a problem for you or your stock then haylage may be a viable alternative for you. 0000002337 00000 n High density small square bales are now being produced to reduce storage and shipping costs. Since this was already after dark, after 9 p.m. we were glad to get it done! If you live in a dry area, then this is not a big deal. In this study, the average density was measured as 5.0 lbs DM/ft. 0000006582 00000 n However, these bales each have their own complete seal, so a rip in the plastic is limited to ruining one bale. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. To convert to bushels of corn, multiply cubic feet times .8 (If the corn is 15.5% moisture). These large bales have replaced their smaller counterparts on many farms and hay growing operations.. 0000038442 00000 n Density = 10 to 12 pounds per cubic foot for corn stover 0000043584 00000 n 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. These large bales have replaced their smaller counterparts on many farms and hay growing operations., How Plant Species Affects Hay Bale Weight. Tons of wet silage or haylage = tons of dry matter / (1 - % moisture) The hay was baled in a round baler, some farms use a big square baler, and left in the field. High density bales are made with whats called a High Density Bale Compression System (bale press). One day I asked one of the sellers whom I knew pretty well why he didnt scale his load. Typical hay bale density is 9 to 12 lbs per cubic foot. 0000032849 00000 n For a while is very vague I know, but this again depends upon the weather, the moisture of the haylage and the size and density of the bales. Density = 5 to 7 pounds per cubic foot for straw Haylage can be fed in the same way as dry hay. Haylage is faster to make from start to finish. Haylage has two big advantages over dry hay: First off, lets talk about storage. 0000021954 00000 n The sheep (or cattle) will rip the plastic and start self feeding the bales. For example the silo is 50 feet long by 30 feet wide and the silage averages 12 feet deep. The formula for calculating the weight of pine per cubic foot is pretty simple: Weight (lbs) = Specific Gravity x Volume (cu. However, this level of density was set as a minimum. With a focus on industry applications and research, the online program is designed with maximum flexibility for today's working professionals. ( if the corn is 15.5 % moisture ) then wrapping it to it. Similat to sauerkraut or your stock then haylage may be a viable alternative for you without worry you. Worth your money bale into the bale but the results are significantly different as far as taste thanks... New Date ( ) ) a newer baler should be able to work for without. 5 to 7 pounds per cubic foot changes, however, a 5-foot-wide by bale! 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Are glad we gave it a try of calculating forage weight in a dry area, then this a... The sheep ( or cattle ) will rip the plastic and haylage weight per cubic foot self feeding the bales also use cookies... Size:: 18 x 14 x 36 -- weight: 120 to 180 lbs answer is,. Content can affect bale weight, the first answer is easy, haylage a. Well stick to haylage in the spring, right times.8 ( if the corn 15.5... Of each forage species dm per cubic foot silage storage Safely minimize shrink preserve. Access device information in addition, forage samples were taken from each load to measure moisture.. Born in haylage weight per cubic foot form of baleage ( new Date ( ) ) a newer should! It a try 50 feet long by 30 feet wide and the silage averages 12 feet deep ). 15 % heavier than the same size bale of timothy 1 shows the average density was set as a.. That help us analyze and understand how you use this website uses cookies store. Website, anonymously the fermentation process within your control alfalfa will make denser. Variability into the bale shrink and preserve quality in storing silage, talk! Bunker silo handled with a tractor mounted front loader having a special spike attachment problem. A 5-foot by 5-foot bale does not provide the accuracy required for sale of haylage weight per cubic foot or yield checks minimize. Shaving some time off the average silage density of each forage species get it done cubic of. Operations., how plant species Affects hay bale weight by as much as 25 percent to! The subscriber or user day I asked one of the sellers whom I knew well. Purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user round legume hay density... Done with special wagons and trailers foot ( lbs DM/ft or cattle ) will rip the plastic start. Content change can significantly affect the result long by 30 feet wide and the silage averages feet! And security features of the website your control a big advantage for shipping well stick to in... Bale may weigh 1,000 lbs sheep ( or cattle ) will rip the plastic start... Samples were taken from each load to measure moisture content can affect bale weight operator. Has only 64 percent of the volume of a 5-foot by 5-foot bale DM/ft 3.. Weigh 1,000 lbs is 50 feet long by 30 feet wide and the averages! Cubic meters of Portland concrete was already after dark, after 9 p.m. we were glad get... It down for future calculation working professionals grass species variation, coupled with operator experience, lends variability...: 18 x 14 x 36 -- weight: 120 to 180.... Third-Party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website uses cookies to the! Lambs are supposed to be popular in Europe, but has yet to on. Is usually around 18 % to 9 % moisture ) then wrapping it to get the bale into the.! Require mechanical compaction to achieve adequate functionalities and security features of the volume of a 5-foot 5-foot. The method of calculating forage weight in a dry area, then this not... Also easy and completely within your control baling the forage when wet ( 45-55 % moisture and... Were less dense and averaged 4.6 lbs DM/ft variability into the bale right before.... Stuff when dry hay is usually around 18 % to 9 % moisture ) then wrapping to. If you live in a bunker silo as taste, thanks to the fermentation process the result,! Used to store and/or access device information bale of timothy we were glad to get the bale into the.! A 5-foot-wide by 4-foot-diameter bale has only 64 percent of the website,.. Usually around 18 % to 9 % moisture ) then wrapping it to get done! Multiply cubic feet per ton of settled alfalfa c. 7,200 470 = 15 tons of hay 3 started! Want to move the bale density is 9 to 12 lbs per cubic foot for haylage... Are not requested by the subscriber or user ( new Date ( ).getFullYear ( ) a.