Sunday, May 25, 2014

Using A Round Bale Hay Net

By Marci Glover


If there's a need, there's probably a smart person somewhere thinking up a solution. This is certainly the case for the round bale hay net. This is an idea whose time has come, since every grazing-animal owner who ever feeds hay in big bales will want one.

Big bales became popular with farmers to reduce labor and storage problems. Animal owners also love them because they'e generally cheaper than small square bales, can be fed out in the open, and allow animals free access to feed. However, there are some drawbacks which the use of big-bale nets can eliminate.

Take horses, for example, although the nets work just as well for hornless cattle, goats, llamas, and alpacas. Most people just put a round bale out in the field and let the horses attack it. The animals eat more than they need, pull hay out and lie on it, trample the forage into the mud, and generally waste a lot. The bottom molds before the horses can eat it all up, leaving an unsightly patch in the pasture.

Check out the advantages of using nets around these mini-haystacks. The horse must work for its food, which limits the amount eaten. This is important for all owners of animals that don't need to be fattened like market cattle. In fact, being too heavy is a health hazard for horses. Even cattle used for breeding rather than beef do better when forage is limited, since overweight cows conceive poorly.

It also keeps waste down, since the animals pull out a mouthful at a time and consume it before taking another. All owners, even those who are fattening cattle or goats for market want to make every smidgen of feed count. Having forage trampled into the mud or laid on is a waste of time, effort, and money.

The nets are easily thrown over the top of the bale. They are designed to be drawn down to the ground and pulled tight. They should always be used with a hay ring or barrier, to keep animals from tangling their feet in the netting. As the hay is consumed, the net drops down over the remainder without making access difficult. Check online for other ways to install these wraps; owners have thought of great ways to make using them easier and better.

Although horses might bite through a cord or two at first, they quickly learn how to get the hay without interference. Holes in the net can easily be tied up with no loss of functionality. The first time, the outer layer of hay should be loosened a bit and some wisps pulled through the netting to get the animals started. Once they are used to feeding this way, they generally don't damage the netting.

The nets should be made of UV-resistant polypropylene, to stand up to sun and weather conditions. Look for guarantees of satisfaction and replacement of defective products. There are sites that detail return and replacement policies, as well as showing how to install their nets and use them to best advantage.




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