Why & How To Weigh Your Hay

Understanding what you are getting for your money when it comes to hay is an important part of running a successful cattle farm. In this video I show you an easy way to weigh your hay on farm.
Crane scale used in this video
amzn.to/3DdgHCb
Follow me:
/ dexter.ranch
/ dexterranch
/ dexterranch
Email me: [e-mail]

[@jedetraktor_cz]

great idea , thanks ! ... i was wanting to weight my bales as well and didnt know how .....

[@TheFrogfeeder]

I’m getting 4 dexters next weekend! My first cows, so naturally I’m looking for a dexter channel…

[@dexterranch]

Well thank you for looking at mine!

[@tpfromcentralpa1692]

Its real hard to buy a light bale out of a newer baler, the older ones are what you have to watch. Most everyone sells rounds where I am by the bale, even big loads. The accessability of scales is to time consuming so by the bale is easiest. With that said, the amount of difference in hay amounts between a 4x4, 4x5 or 4x6 to a 5x5 or 5x6 is quite a bit.............Most here run 4 ft wide balers, I am against the grain because its alot less hay to haul, and I don't sell rounds normally so its 5x6 for me.

[@dexterranch]

These are 4x6, but the guy down the road bales with a 4x5, and charges the same price per bale. That was what inspired the video. People new to the game may not understand that there is a pretty big difference. That being said the guy I bought this hay from buys a new tractor, and baler every 3 years, and there are some bales that will just about tip my skid steer and others that feel light and fluffy. I don’t know.

[@shaunsmuder1637]

Great video now I'm going to get a scale

[@dexterranch]

Thank you Shaun!!!

[@ajoshmiller]

Great video, that scene was hilarious! I've had some issues getting good hay myself, and bought a moisture meter as well, because wet bales are heavier. I have that same scale to weigh animal carcasses and other random things and it works well.

[@dexterranch]

Thanks Josh. Yes I was thinking the scale would come in useful for several things around the farm. Thanks for watching.

[@KrusinTheSierra]

Haha great video

[@shaunsmuder1637]

I can tell how heavy my bails are if I can not pick them up with the tractor, but I can pick them up with the Bobcat, If they weigh 1100 pounds or more I can't lift them up with the tractor I have to use the Bobcat.

[@dexterranch]

Same here. I can tell pretty close how much they weigh by how the bobcat handles them.

[@shaunsmuder1637]

My calls are pretty picky they will only eat hay from certain farms

[@dexterranch]

I wish I had more of a selection. Most of the hay I have access to is pretty much the same thing. Unless I want to splurge for some “horse quality” and that gets expensive fast.

[@shaunsmuder1637]

@@dexterranch With the drought around here they're getting horse quality prices for all the hay Most round Bails are going anywhere from 80 to a 120 around here And when I'm feeding Hey I go through about 1 big 1200 pound roll a week

[@shaunsmuder1637]

And I have 10 head now

[@dexterranch]

That’s about where I’m at also. By far the worst year yet as far as drought. I took deposit on 2 cows today, and I have 2 steers heading off to the butcher next month. I should be down to 10 head by the time winter hits and that will include calves. I will be keeping my eye out for one nice heifer or cow to add back to the heard, but plan on keeping it a little smaller for a while. Very rough year.