Feeding with a traditional livestock bale feeder doesn’t present much of a challenge out in the middle of your pasture. You’ll typically take the tractor, drop the hay inside and call it an afternoon, after all this is how it has been done for years. Like all livestock equipment suppliers, we carry a large inventory of the traditional hay feeders, but we came across this new design from Tarter and think it’s worth a look!
The trouble with Traditional Hay Feeders
The problem with a large fixed ring hay feeder is that once your livestock eats the outer layers of the bale, the bale shrinks in size to the point where they can’t reach it anymore. The hay is just out of reach and all it does is entice them to lean against the feeder. This of course leads to metal bending and even cattle climbing inside the feeder to finish off the bale in the center. This can lead to injury and the exciting struggle of trying to help them out!
The ‘Flex Feeders’ are uniquely designed to shrink in size as the bale gets smaller and allow your animals to eat the bale entirely. Each of the panels of this feeder is hinged like a door so that when leaned upon, instead of bending, they will slide inward around the remaining bale to provide consistent access until it is gone.
Cattle and Horse Hay Feeder Designs
The cattle feeder is made with a top bar around the vertical bars while the horse design is open at the top. See the pictures and videos below for each style and consider this feeder the next time you’re looking for a new bale feeder. This unique design is worth exploring!
As always, if we can help with anything at all, call us at (720) 238-2190, email Sales@BarnWorld.com or visit our website at BarnWorld.com today!
Flexible Cattle Hay Feeder Video
Cattle Hay Feeder Review
Most of the traditional hay feeders out on the market are just a solid, metal round ring. This closed-top flex feeder for cattle has a closed ring around the top for extra strength and is built in multiple, flexible sections. At each section, it’s hinged together almost like a door so as cows consume the hay bale, the flex feeder closes around the size of hay that remains inside the feeder as it shrinks.
This feeder makes sure all the hay is accessible
What this allows you to do, no matter the size of the remaining bale or the herd size you have is give your animals access to your hay no matter the remaining size. The pressure that your animals put on the panels causes the feeder to shrink to the size of the bale. This is nice because as opposed to your traditional, fixed, round bale feeders, the flexible panels won’t get crushed and bent as your animals try to get to the last bit of hay remaining in the center of the feeder. Some traditional feeders can get destroyed in a matter of hours by larger livestock leaning against the fixed feeder walls.
Hinges are the key!
With the closed top flex feeder, when pressure is applied to the panels, the hinges allow it to slide inward and closer to the hay bale so your livestock has access and eat until the bale is completely gone. The hinged sections are designed with safety in mind and are perfectly safe for all of your farm and ranch animals.
The flexible panel feeder will make you happy as well because your cattle going to make cleanup of that remaining hay effortless and minimize any waste, saving you hay.
The benefit of the flex feeder is that it allows the cattle to get to that last bite of hay. Nothing is inaccessible and wasted and the feeder will serve 8-10 head of cattle.
The Flexible Horse Hay Feeder
Flexible Horse Hay Feeder Video
Hay Feeder Review
This adjustable feeder is built for both livestock and horses to have easy access to large bales from when the bale starts large and uneaten, all the way down to the smaller size when consumed. The pin and loop connections are safe for horses and make them easy to set up. The panels move easily when the bale gets smaller. This provides access as it’s consumed. The sides are moved inward by your animals under normal feeding pressures. The strong frame is made with steel, 1-3/4″ steel tubing and the hay-saving steel skirt keeps loose hay from being trampled. Keep your large bales accessible no matter the changing size with this unique design from Tarter.
If you have any questions on the feeder or if you’d like a quote with shipping to your address, please let us know and we’ll be happy to forward one for your review.
Barn World | Sales@BarnWorld.com | 720.238.2190
