Purchasing Hay Equipment: Balers

The type of baler selected for haymaking is important in the success of the operation. First, operational goals must be set to determine the best baler for the job. These goals are determined by multiple questions:

• Will the hay be dry or wet baleage?
• Will the hay be sold or fed to livestock in the operation?
• What is the current capacity of hay operations equipment in terms of lifting and horsepower?
• What are hay storage capabilities?
• How is hay fed to livestock?

The type of baler that is most appropriate to use is often dependent on the end use of the hay and operation factors. Figure 1 indicates how forage moisture requirements vary by type of baler used.

Another consideration when evaluating baler options is the ability to add a preservative to the forage.

Preservatives can be useful tools in some systems and may be helpful for the haymaker. Learn more about hay preservatives in the Ohioline fact sheet Hay Preservatives (ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/anr-0216).

Baler Types

Small Square Baler

Small square baling produces a bale that is generally 14 inches high and 18 inches wide. Bale length can be adjusted by the operator and can be approximately 24–36 inches in length. Small square balers are relatively less expensive to purchase than other balers. Small square balers also have a lower horsepower requirement, so a smaller tractor can be used, and are generally easy to market with a higher return potential from resale. In addition, the cost to produce small square bales is less than that of larger balers, and production is generally easier for newer farmers. One advantage in baling hay into small square bales is that it usually results in an ability to produce bales with a higher moisture content. Also, the small square bales are manageable in many storage settings including older storage facilities, such as bank barns.

Small square baling does, however, have disadvantages:

• increased labor to stack bales and store them in the barn
• continued maintenance
• the need for wagons to haul hay from the field
• few options for damp hay, adding preservatives is one option

Some labor-saving options exist for small square balers. One such option is a hay accumulator. These come in multiple bale sets and are used to collect the hay on the ground behind the baler as hay is being baled. Ten bales flat or on edge, or up to fifteen bales on edge can be picked up with an accumulator. Another option is a bale kicker mounted on the rear of the small square baler. The bale kicker throws bales into a rack wagon (wagon with sides).

Another consideration for small square bales is determining the type of material used to tie the bales. First, one must decide if sisal twine, polypropylene, or wire is preferred. Twine can be cost effective and is also biodegradable. However, twine does not hold up well and degrades in wet weather.

Careful consideration should be taken to avoid livestock ingestion of any twine or wire material. It is important to also note that wire and twine (whether sisal or polypropylene) cannot be used interchangeably in a baler. The knotting or tying mechanisms are different for each type of baler.

Large Square Baler

Like small square balers, large square balers can produce a varied bale length. These balers typically produce a bale  36 or 48 inches wide and 36 or 48 inches high. The greatest advantage is the forage capacity of the baler. Another advantage is that the bales are easy to stack and store. They are also easily shipped or trucked. Large square bales are arguably the most marketable because of their durability. Options to handle wet/damp hay with large square balers include cutting of forage in the chamber and using preservatives to inhibit bacterial growth.

Large square balers also provide the benefit of not needing to be stopped between the creation of bales as is necessary with round balers. They can also adjust the size of the bale based on the producer’s needs.

One disadvantage of large square balers is the high tractor horsepower requirement. In addition, a loader is needed to handle the heavy bales, maintenance costs are high, large square balers are expensive to purchase, and hay must be drier at baling compared with small square balers. However, a lot of these factors are common with most balers.

Round Baler

Round balers are widely popular for their ability to meet the needs of operations of all sizes. An important advantage is that their capacity can be adjusted based on the model of the baler.

Round balers can be fixed chamber or variable chamber, meaning that, although the width doesn’t change, the diameter of the bale can be adjusted.

Common round bale sizes are 4’ x 5’ or 4‘ x 6’. Some round bale models have variable chamber sizes—although the width of the bale doesn’t change, the diameter can be adjusted to match the operation’s or customer’s need. If an operation has a specific tractor horsepower available, the operation can most likely find a baler to meet its needs. Additionally, round bales can be used in various farm operations. Round bales are common in situations where producers bale dry or wet/damp forage for baleage. Round bales can be stored in multiple configurations including in rows, wrapped, in a building, or in a covered stack. Round balers can also be used with a variety of horsepower tractors due to the ability to adjust bale size and are available from a variety of manufacturers.

Round balers can handle forages and crops of all kinds, including grass hay, corn stalks, straw, and more.

Some disadvantages of round balers are the need for frequent stopping to eject each bale and the concern of bales rolling downhill. As with other balers, maintenance is important to prevent the risk of fire.

Round balers can be operated using a range of tractor horsepower and have variable capacities. As capacity increases, tractor horsepower requirements increase.

Round balers have various options for cutting forage in a manner that aids animals’ digestion. Round bales can be held together by twine or net wrap. Generally, twine is more cost effective to use whereas net wrap is quicker to apply to the bale and will provide better protection if the bales are stored outside.

Considerations

Other factors must be considered when choosing which baler is best for your operation, including the economics of purchasing a baler. One must ask if a machine will provide a return on investment, if it is time efficient, and if repair costs will be reasonable. The final decision will be based on if the equipment meets the end goals of the operator. As with most equipment, understanding expected repairs and maintenance is key. These will vary based on the baler and its exact specifications.

Time efficiency is another key consideration when choosing a baler. How much time does your operation have for baling hay? Table 1 shows tons per hour estimates for each type of baler. This can be important for time efficiency in the operation.

Additionally, nutrient value of the forage product can be affected by the type of baler selected, crop cutters added, and other options added to the baler. Crop cutters cut the forage into smaller pieces making it more digestible for animals. These types of options should be considered when evaluating a baler for purchase.

Storage

Regardless of the baler chosen for your operation, storage is a key consideration. Will the hay be stored inside, or will it be kept outside? Each type of bale—small square, large square, and round—has slightly different storage management requirements for preserving the quality of the forage. Be sure to refer to the hay storage fact sheet to consider all the options.