Hay Bale Volumes

Like many different things out there, folks have opinions or ideas about which is best (think Ford vs. Chevy vs. Dodge or John Deere vs. International vs. Massey Ferguson).  The same holds true for round bale size.  2019 was not a good year to make hay.  I hope those of you that are reading this article on the NC Horse Blog already have your hay.  If not, get it soon.  Because of the weather for the past year or so, hay is not going to be plentiful this year.  I know of many sellers who put up way less hay this year than normal.  Plus the hay was not their normal quality due to weather issues.  So, get your hay soon.  If you still need some, here are some interesting things to think about. 

Most folks with horses don’t often choose round bales to feed their animals.  Some do, but I would say not the majority.   This is probably due to quality concerns.  If mowed, baled, stored and fed properly, round bales work pretty well for horses in pasture situations.  Feeding hay from round bales to stalled horses could be done, but your help might quit.  

  

Anyhow, I went to a farm earlier in the year and he was getting his round baler ready to go to the field.  He told me he had been given a chart from a guy from “State College” that told how many cubic feet were in the various sizes of round bales.  I found that really interesting.  It’s hard to believe a foot here or a foot there will make that much difference.  I did confirm these numbers with other universities.

There’s certainly reasons why folks choose the size balers they do – what type of livestock will get the hay, how will the hay be fed, how far does the hay have to transported on the road, and is the hay to be sold or used for your own animals.  All of these factors play a role in deciding which size baler is best for your operation.  But, the key point, whether you’re buying or selling, is price.  All round bales are not created equal.  I’m referring to size here.  Throw quality in the mix and that’s another topic as well.  But, based on volume alone, a 4X4 and a 5X6 are nowhere near the same.  Therefore, the price should reflect that difference.  Compare apples to apples.  With this chart you can compare how much hay you will actually get if you purchase a 4X4 vs. a 5X6.

Below is a chart with bale size and volume:

Bale width, ft	Bale diameter, ft	Volume, ft3
4	4	50.2
4	5	78.5
4	6	113.4
5	3	35.3
5	4	62.8
5	5	98.3
5	6	141