According to Teagasc, baled silage is now made on over two-thirds of all farms in Ireland and accounts for one third of all silage made in the country. It is particularly prevalent as the primary silage-making system on both beef and smaller-sized farms. However, it is also widespread as a second silage making system when harvesting second-cut grass due to the silage pits being full from the first cut; it also acts as a simple means of storage for extra fodder on many other farms, which is becoming increasingly popular as more farmers now operate their own baler. Making the bales is one thing, but handling and feeding them during the winter is a whole other issue. There are hundreds of different manufacturers making bale handling equipment of various designs to suit all farmers, from the budget machines right up to state-of-the-art options. Of course, the prices increase accordingly as they go up in specification. In this article we look at some different options to suit various farmers with different animal numbers and budgets.1 Bale spike/handler
According to Teagasc, baled silage is now made on over two-thirds of all farms in Ireland and accounts for one third of all silage made in the country. It is particularly prevalent as the primary silage-making system on both beef and smaller-sized farms. However, it is also widespread as a second silage making system when harvesting second-cut grass due to the silage pits being full from the first cut; it also acts as a simple means of storage for extra fodder on many other farms, which is becoming increasingly popular as more farmers now operate their own baler. Making the bales is one thing, but handling and feeding them during the winter is a whole other issue. There are hundreds of different manufacturers making bale handling equipment of various designs to suit all farmers, from the budget machines right up to state-of-the-art options. Of course, the prices increase accordingly as they go up in specification. In this article we look at some different options to suit various farmers with different animal numbers and budgets.
1 Bale spike/handler
This is by far the simplest option when handling bales. A bale handler or spike can be front-loader mounted as well as three-point linkage mounted depending on the farmer’s tractor size, meaning they don’t necessarily need to have a front loader fitted. A bale spike pierces the bale and moves it around for feeding. The disadvantage of this system is wrapped bales cannot be moved without damage due to having to be spiked, meaning you will require another method to move wrapped bales without damaging them, such as a bale handler. Bale handlers come in two versions, standard or trip. The trip version allows the operator to place the bale on its end by “tripping” a safety catch, allowing it to tilt backwards as the bale is lifted. Bale handlers most commonly come in single or double versions, allowing you to transport one or two bales each time. Prices for bale spikes commonly start at €250 upwards whereas bale handlers start at €400. These systems are suited to smaller farmers as they are very labour intensive due to the baled silage having to be forked out to the animals manually but are definitely a cheap and cheerful option as you only need one tractor with or without a front loader.
2 Hydraulic bale handlers
Moving up the list, the next option when handling bales is a hydraulic bale handler. These machines are suited to front loaders for handling wrapped and unwrapped bales. They are designed with removable smooth sleeves which are fitted over the spikes to allow the operator to handle wrapped bales without damaging them. For feeding bales, the sleeves are removed and you spike the bale to move it to the desired location. Bale handlers are all fitted with two spikes for stability when handling wrapped bales and also allowing two bales to be spiked and moved if required. The hydraulic design clamps the bale securely but can also be used to break it apart.
Being front loader mounted will also help feed out the bale to more animals but you will still need to manually fork it out more evenly. Hydraulic bale handlers are suited to all farmers as they are very useful with prices starting around €1,000 making them slightly more expensive than simpler spikes or handlers. However, front loaders are needed in order to operate.
3 Rotating bale spike
A simple yet effective method to feeding round bales is a rotating bale spike which essentially unwinds the bale in front of the animals, thus reducing physical labour vastly. The rotating spike uses two or three spikes located close together to keep the bale stable during rotation. The machine then rotates ether clockwise or anticlockwise via a hydraulic motor which unwinds the bale along the feeding passage. These machines can be front loader or three-point linkage mounted, allowing use on tractors without front loaders. They start in price around €1,200 and will eliminate a lot of labour as, with practice, the operator will be able to feed out quite evenly, reducing the need to fork silage. The disadvantage of the machine is you can only feed one bale at a time and cannot use it to handle wrapped bales.
4 Bale shears/splitter
To avoid the undesirable task of removing plastic wrap and net from silage bales, numerous manufacturers now offer bale shears or splitters which retain the plastic and net while splitting the bale making it easier to feed out. These machines come in numerous different designs but the basic idea and working principle is the same, to split the bale and retain the net and plastic for recycling at a later stage. The shears or splitters are designed to be used on front loaders and work by passing a large blade through the bale hydraulically, thus halving it. The main advantage is the easier feeding out due to bales being halved. Also, when used in conjunction with a diet feeder, it promotes easier mixing and chopping. However, the main benefit is being able to feed animals without having to leave the cab. The disadvantage is the bale still needs to be forked out to the animals and a tractor fitted with a front loader with good hydraulic output is required. Bale shears start at €1,400 depending on size and manufacturer.
5 Shear Buckets
Taking the idea of a bale shear one step further is the shear bucket or multi-shear machine which incorporate the benefit of splitting a bale in half while retaining the plastic and net while offering the benefit of being able to use it as a shear grab in pit silage as well as a bucket for concentrates etc. These machines start at €3,000 depending on size and spec.
6 Bale unwinder/Feeder
In recent years, bale unwinders/feeders have grown in popularity, with many different manufacturers offering different designs and models but the working principle remains the same, to unwind and evenly feed out baled silage. These machines consist of a rotating cradle fitted with spiked lats which rotate the bale unwinding it and also break it up so it can be fed out evenly. As the bale rotates, it comes against a roller and feed-out flap which is either steel or rubber to regulate the flow more evenly. Loading the machine is taken care of via a removable spike and can be front loader or three-point linkage mounted. The advantage of this system is that only one tractor is required for loading and feeding with or without a front loader. They are suited to small to medium-sized farmers as they can quickly and easily feed numerous animals without the need to fork silage.
The disadvantage is that the plastic and net has to be removed manually beforehand to work successfully, which takes time, especially in larger operations. Prices for these machines start at €4,500 upwards depending on spec.
7 Bale shredders
For farmers requiring more output and speed, the next option is bale shredders. These machines are predominately linkage mounted and do not require front loaders. The bale is opened with the plastic removed before being lifted into the shredder. Once in place the tractor PTO powers a rotating blade which chops the bale and discharges it out the feed spout.
To keep the discharge even and the blades fed, the entire bale rotates inside the barrel hydraulically. These shredders will normally offer the added benefit of being able to blow straw for bedding out of a top spout, making them a more useful and versatile machine.
The main advantage of this system is two machines in one for both feeding and bedding, even discharge eliminating the need to fork silage and finally being able to be three-point linkage mounted, removing the need for a front loader.
The disadvantage is that you will need a 70hp+ tractor and still need to remove plastic manually. Loading the machine can be done with the optional self-loading attachment, but at an extra price. Other than that, you will need two tractors. Prices start from €8,000.
8 Bale processors
The bigger brother of the bale shredder is the processor, but the principle remains essentially the same. The bale is stripped and loaded either via a front loader and separate tractor or self loaded by the machine before being slowly moved forward via a moving floor chain into the high-speed beater bars which break up the bale first and regulate the flow of silage into the blower.
The PTO-powered blower then discharges the silage out in front of the animals. These machines are normally trailed and are commonly found on larger, more heavily stocked farms where the farmers need to feed a lot of animals in a short space of time. Bale processors are not only designed for use with silage bales, but can also be used with straw for bedding purposes.
The discharge direction and angle is controlled in-cab hydraulically along the farm to place the straw or silage exactly where they want it, reducing waste. The advantage of this system is efficiency and performance, while the drawback is having to keep it fed with stripped bales positioned where they can be easily self-loaded, most often requiring another tractor and loader. Prices start at €15,000 for this type of machine.
9 Diet feeders
For farmers who want to mix their own feed using baled silage and concentrates then the only option is a diet feeder. Diet feeders come in two basic versions, horizontal and vertical or tub feeders, which they are better known as. Due to their design, tub feeders are better suited to handling bales as a rule, although horizontal machines offer bale handling attachments to make it easier and more efficient when using bales. Diet feeders come in numerous makes and sizes, offering a solution to suit all farmers, big and small.
The advantage of using a diet feeder is a better quality mix for the animals, being able to incorporate different feeds and concentrates easily, while also being fast and efficient at feeding large animal numbers. The disadvantages are, larger diet feeders require larger tractors to power them as well as needing another machine to load the feeder.
There are self-loading and self-propelled diet feeder versions available on the market, but they are not very popular here in Ireland.
Prices for diet feeders start at €17,000 for smaller capacity machines and can increase up to €200,000 for state-of-the-art self-propelled feeders.
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