Context is important. I write this from the perspective of a small-scale farmer, not a homesteader. Today, I stood at the top of a hillside and watched as a round bale of hay quickly unraveled down my hill. The bale completed its journey about halfway down and I immediately thought, “Well, that was a waste.” Suspect of the concept prior to ever putting it into practice, I had just confirmed those suspicions. My flock of sheep will work it over, and after a day they will have excreted all over the strip. What’s not eaten will be left to rot and smother existing grasses. There are simply better ways to build soil and/or get better grazing from a pasture. Google is your friend.
Supporters will rally and say, “By rolling out round bales I’m adding carbon matter to the soil.” No, you’re smothering native grasses. They’ll counter, “No, I’m adding quality hay and its seeds to my rough pastures.” I’d respond, “Then you’re paying a premium for that hay, and having more than is necessary waste into the fields.” The only way to provide standing for that point would be to acquire a good bit of old round bales for a steal and roll them out. Then you might do something beneficial for your topsoil. But is that what you want to feed your livestock? No. It’s not. But don’t give up yet. Try rolling it out in specific sections. Now you’re only feeding exactly what your herd/flock will eat. Congratulations! You just cut your hourly pay in half by doubling the feeding times.
We’ve seen the rise of “concrete pads”, and I’m sure hay rings will always be used. I personally have a little mobile cover that rotates with the flock. It covers two round bales (which sit on pallets). This prevents the sheep from resting/climbing on it and reduces waste from element exposures. Keep in mind that my method is for the micro-farm, used in a rotational system. We waste little with the method though. I’ve probably ruffled some feathers at this point. Let me finish by saying that if you’re using low to medium quality hay for stockers/feeder cattle on land you don’t own this may work (kinda). If you’re seriously trying to improve the soil then rethink your methods.
Maybe I’ve overlooked something. My system isn’t yours. I’ll still likely think your wasting hay, and that hay is $. In my estimation, the feeding method of rolling out round bales is nothing more than snake oil being sold by charlatans. You’re not wrong for doing it or having done it. It’s simply not the best practice.
Thanks again for stopping by where It’s Farming. Done Right.
Nick
Hi Nick, I just found your farm! My Huntsville cousin purchased your pork chops at the farmer’s market for the first time yesterday. I gave him “the talk” at a recent family reunion about the wrongs of the big ag industrial food system and the benefits of supporting local farms and he took it to heart! We farm the way you do here in north central Pennsylvania. I feed round bales for the winter by placing them on end in a grid pattern through the pasture all at one time in late fall. I take the plastic twine off all of them immediately after placing them. The cows pick the bad stuff off the outsides and eat the good hay as they want through the winter. Advantages: Labor Saving- start the tractor once to place all the bales then you’re done for the winter. Soil building- cows make the mess out in the pasture which improves the soil and places hay seed into the pasture. Also- minimum damage to the existing grass since the mess is concentrated around the bale, not spread out in a strip. It works!
Hey Chip, that’s great.
Apologies for the delayed response. I’ve had some “critical” website issues until recently. I staged our bales right outside of the house, put pallets on top and bottom. Then I tarped them. So far the air flow from having the pallet on top has protected against degradation. I’ll get net wrapped next year, and just pallet the bases. At the time I wrote the blog, we had sheep only. I greatly prefer cattle. It’s much easier to manage the livestock and their grazing habits (for us).
I like the idea of the grid pattern grazing. How long have you been doing it that way? Do you have to drag the pasture in the spring to get the leftover piles to decompose before late spring?
Best Regards,
Nick
Five Sons Farm