Pit or bales: how do you eat yours?

jfh

Out of interest, those people with both, which do ye start into first, we usually use the bales first & keep a few for cows let out early with calves.
This year I'm planning on letting the weanlings have the bales & the cows the pit.

degetme

a few bales first, pit silage then and if that's gone back to the best bales for march then if required

mauradora

Do you have any round bales left?

degetme

mauradora wrote: »

Do you have any round bales left?

heaps of them

Willfarman

Pit is dead safe if it isn't used .. Bales first.

Bullocks

We usually use a lock of bales before opening the pit but we have a good bit of last years pit left over and I'm sick of the few bales i opened this week already . Tomorrow morning I'm going to open the pit and put on the sheargrab . Hopefully sell the bales if the price is worth it later in the year

BG2.0

Bullocks wrote: »

We usually use a lock of bales before opening the pit but we have a good bit of last years pit left over and I'm sick of the few bales i opened this week already . Tomorrow morning I'm going to open the pit and put on the sheargrab . Hopefully sell the bales if the price is worth it later in the year

You need an aprentice

keep going

Bullocks wrote: »

We usually use a lock of bales before opening the pit but we have a good bit of last years pit left over and I'm sick of the few bales i opened this week already . Tomorrow morning I'm going to open the pit and put on the sheargrab . Hopefully sell the bales if the price is worth it later in the year

plus one on the bales,opening the pit on the weekend.cant wait

Grueller

Hate bales too but have a lock of the hoors from strong paddocks. Will be early January before the pit is opened.

darragh_haven

Bales are used until all animals are housed. Then horse into pit until first pit is finished and then back to bales if there is enough there until cattle are put out again. If not, second pit is opened. For a few weeks.

Bullocks

BG2.0 wrote: »

You need an aprentice

I need more than an apprentice

buffalobilly

use a few bales first when cattle all in
open pit hard to beat the sheer grab
does away with most of the work lol

Panch18

Moved to all bales here about 10 years ago

never going back!!!

buffalobilly

Panch18 wrote: »

Moved to all bales here about 10 years ago

never going back!!!

why

Dawggone

I avoid bales as much as I can. Expensive and a pita.

They have a place however. We find them excellent for conserving high protein forage like lucerne and clover.


Nearly bought a prodig shearbucket with the bale opener attachment, but I was weary of a mouldy bale finding it way into the diet feeder.

Panch18

buffalobilly wrote: »

why

Many reasons:

Most importantly we can cut the silage when we want and at as many different times as needed
There is no doubt in our mind that cows and bullocks thrive better in bales
Less wear and tear on the yard and the front loader
No worry of effluent and trying to deal with it
Can store bales much easier at various locations, any bit of a trunked yard will do, we have 5 blocks of land
We find bales much easier at feed out
We have practically no forking anymore

They would be our main reasons

Carrigogunnell

I baled close to 2700 bales for a farm this year because the pits were full after first cut, 400 cows. He was telling me yesterday they opened 28 bales u would be busy

jooksavage

All bales here. Had a bad run with the pit silage a few years back. Bales are also handier to manage with the slightly scattered layout of the farm.

20silkcut

Dawggone wrote: »

I avoid bales as much as I can. Expensive and a pita.

They have a place however. We find them excellent for conserving high protein forage like lucerne and clover.


Nearly bought a prodig shearbucket with the bale opener attachment, but I was weary of a mouldy bale finding it way into the diet feeder.

Now this is interesting. I have a neighbour who is never in any rush to shift bales out of a field after wrapping and has no fear of crows and bales going mouldy because they will be all well mixed in the diet feeder he says and it won't matter.

And you say you wouldn't let a mouldy one near a diet feeder.

Deepsouthwest

20silkcut wrote: »

Now this is interesting. I have a neighbour who is never in any rush to shift bales out of a field after wrapping and has no fear of crows and bales going mouldy because they will be all well mixed in the diet feeder he says and it won't matter.

And you say you wouldn't let a mouldy one near a diet feeder.

That doesn't sound like a great system to me.

20silkcut

Deepsouthwest wrote: »

That doesn't sound like a great system to me.

He doesn't know how to work the controls on the diet feeder he just throws in the stuff and mixes away makes the silage grand and fluffy he says.

Saw him baling straw one roasting hot day with all the windows of the tractor wide open and he choking in a cloud of dust.
Nothing strange about that except he was driving a 142 reg New Holland that would have a great air con system if he knew how to turn it on and kept the windows closed.
He would look at you blankly if you mentioned air conditioning to him.

20silkcut

We all know someone like that don't we.

poor farmer

Switched from pit (gradually) to all bales over the last 3-4 years.
1,400 bales dairy and beef
advantages, in my opinion
multi cut i.e.cut fields at the right time
very little waste.
stock better fed .
Quicker to feed out.
overall diesel usage a lot less than when we had pit.

X6.430macman

do all bales, haven't the land for pit, it would be great if the contractors would chop the bales though.

raypallas

X6.430macman wrote:

do all bales, haven't the land for pit, it would be great if the contractors would chop the bales though.

You being the customer should be able to dictate if the bales are chopped or not.

Muckit

Yeah all knives banks in balers should be checked by the farmer as the contractor comes in the gate!

Kovu

raypallas wrote: »

You being the customer should be able to dictate if the bales are chopped or not.

Precisely.....we get asked if we want them chopped or not as the baler arrives in the gate.
Bit more expensive as the tractor goes slower and they need more netting. We won't take a contractor if he won't chop. Too much hardship throwing it out at the barrier and it gets pulled onto the slats.

frazzledhome

Now at 60% bales. Will go as much bales as possible with probably only pit being what's bought from contractor if required.

Love them as more animals fed quicker. Better control on quality

Love them even more now as I took delivery of a ProDig shear grab that'll open bales. Don't have to leave the cab till all feeding done

Zr105

frazzledhome wrote: »

Now at 60% bales. Will go as much bales as possible with probably only pit being what's bought from contractor if required.

Love them as more animals fed quicker. Better control on quality

Love them even more now as I took delivery of a ProDig shear grab that'll open bales. Don't have to leave the cab till all feeding done

Did ya go for the bucket type or standard type grab?

frazzledhome

Zr105 wrote: »

Did ya go for the bucket type or standard type grab?

Tine grab

kowtow

frazzledhome wrote:

Love them even more now as I took delivery of a ProDig shear grab that'll open bales. Don't have to leave the cab till all feeding done

Hmmm was thinking of your shear as I got sopping wet feeding today.

Do you get bales chopped?

kevthegaff

Can you feed pit silage with it too? Just looked at the tanko one online some job. How much?

trixi2011

Was feeding bales up to this week and was never so glad to open the pit . Bales are great for us when were buffer feeding but once cows are in at night they are far to time comsuming. Taking an hour less to block feed than bales and one less person

quader

frazzledhome wrote: »

Tine grab

why did you go for the tine grap over the bucket frazz ,am ordering mine on monday but cant make up my mind:rolleyes::rolleyes:

frazzledhome

kowtow wrote: »

Hmmm was thinking of your shear as I got sopping wet feeding today.

Do you get bales chopped?

Yes chopped

IH784man

Muckit wrote: »

Yeah all knives banks in balers should be checked by the farmer as the contractor comes in the gate!

Some people we bale for wouldn't know a haet when it comes to machines,wouldn't know what they would be looking at,contractor wouldn't have time for it either.

frazzledhome

kevthegaff wrote: »

Can you feed pit silage with it too? Just looked at the tanko one online some job. How much?

Yes, just like standard grab but with wrap remover.

Price depends on model but would be at the upper end. I wouldn't compare on price as build quality is outstanding. All times are Hardox steel with shear made from 10 mm steel

frazzledhome

quader wrote: »

why did you go for the tine grap over the bucket frazz ,am ordering mine on monday but cant make up my mind:rolleyes::rolleyes:

I don't load a diet feeder, no maize so bucket no advantage to me. Bucket is on the small side for feeding pit silage to cows.

BG2.0

frazzledhome wrote: »

I don't load a diet feeder, no maize so bucket no advantage to me. Bucket is on the small side for feeding pit silage to cows.

Do you still need to sort wrap/net after, can't have it tooo easy/clean from silage juice!

frazzledhome

BG2.0 wrote: »

Do you still need to sort wrap/net after, can't have it tooo easy/clean from silage juice!

Yes needs to be seperated for recycling. Won't be that way next yr as film is now available instead of mesch.

quader

frazzledhome wrote: »

I don't load a diet feeder, no maize so bucket no advantage to me. Bucket is on the small side for feeding pit silage to cows.

not useing a diet feeder either frazz and was thinking the same , sales man is pushing "recomending" the bucket over the grab . says it will take as much silage as as regular grap . and that the mega bite take a lot more ,and do you find the hardox tines hold the silage thanks frazz:):)

frazzledhome

quader wrote: »

not useing a diet feeder either frazz and was thinking the same , sales man is pushing "recomending" the bucket over the grab . says it will take as much silage as as regular grap . and that the mega bite take a lot more ,and do you find the hardox tines hold the silage thanks frazz:):)

No issue with tines. Have since Tues and paint is now off them so holding nothing. What size you looking at. These are heavy attachments.

quader

frazzledhome wrote: »

No issue with tines. Have since Tues and paint is now off them so holding nothing. What size you looking at. These are heavy attachments.

looking at a 5ft shear grab starting to crack from feeding bales so need to replace it will be feeding bales and pit maybe get a diet feeder again but nt too pushed was going to go for a mega shear but rep is saying the bucket is better
have him told i will take 1 or the other :rolleyes::rolleyes:

quader

frazzledhome wrote: »

No issue with tines. Have since Tues and paint is now off them so holding nothing. What size you looking at. These are heavy attachments.

how long were you waiting for it was told 3 weeks sorry 4 all the questions frazz

frazzledhome

quader wrote: »

how long were you waiting for it was told 3 weeks sorry 4 all the questions frazz

3 wks is BS. I bought at ploughing and was told the same, got it Monday. I won't be dealing with that guy again. Super machine but full of shyte sales guy

keep going

frazzledhome wrote: »

Now at 60% bales. Will go as much bales as possible with probably only pit being what's bought from contractor if required.

Love them as more animals fed quicker. Better control on quality

Love them even more now as I took delivery of a ProDig shear grab that'll open bales. Don't have to leave the cab till all feeding done

i have a feeling that will be parked next to the zerograzer in a few years time:p

quader

frazzledhome wrote: »

3 wks is BS. I bought at ploughing and was told the same, got it Monday. I won't be dealing with that guy again. Super machine but full of shyte sales guy

pm sent:D

Panch18

frazzledhome wrote: »

Now at 60% bales. Will go as much bales as possible with probably only pit being what's bought from contractor if required.

Love them as more animals fed quicker. Better control on quality

Love them even more now as I took delivery of a ProDig shear grab that'll open bales. Don't have to leave the cab till all feeding done

So is it a good job frazz? Did you try the mchale and if so how did they compare?
Is it too big for a tractor?

frazzledhome

Panch18 wrote: »

So is it a good job frazz? Did you try the mchale and if so how did they compare?
Is it too big for a tractor?

Absolutely great job. Will handle plastic from any out of shape bale.

Didn't try McHale, These and tanco were closest to me. Tanco worked well but grab too small for pit silage.

We got the 6' and way too big for the average 110 hp tractor IMO. We have on JCB 310. Build quality is excellent.

I was slow to buy one for a few yrs but have no regrets. Well that said, it was a very frustrating first few hrs with it as we were only successful with about 70% of bales. There's a knack and now it's every bale every time.

Panch18

frazzledhome wrote: »

Absolutely great job. Will handle plastic from any out of shape bale.

Didn't try McHale, These and tanco were closest to me. Tanco worked well but grab too small for pit silage.

We got the 6' and way too big for the average 110 hp tractor IMO. We have on JCB 310. Build quality is excellent.

I was slow to buy one for a few yrs but have no regrets. Well that said, it was a very frustrating first few hrs with it as we were only successful with about 70% of bales. There's a knack and now it's every bale every time.

Feeding a lot of bales here and it's only a 100hp so the weight of the grab is our fear alright, and as you said you have the 310 for it. Might have to stick to the penknife for a while longer!

BG2.0

Would prodig be up for doing custom work frazz, that bag filler with a narrow-spout and abit bigger would be handy..