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Efficiency of round bale feeders: comparison of Tombstone versus Hay Saver.
Abstract: Hay wastage when feeding round bales due to contamination, deterioration, and animal refusal can accrue large financial losses for farmers. The present study investigated the efficiency of the conventional Tombstone-style feeder system compared to the Hay Saver feeder system to reduce hay wastage in feeding round hay bales. Mares were distributed equally into two groups, Tombstone and Hay Saver, and fed six bales per group over 48 days. Hay wastage was collected daily, dried, and weighed, while the mares were weighed weekly. Overall, the Hay Saver feeder showed less hay wastage, higher mean mare weight, and higher consumption rate per horse. The results of this study indicated that the Hay Saver feeder system had higher efficiency compared to the Tombstone feeder system.
©2023 The Japanese Society of Equine Science.
Publication Date: 2023-06-12 PubMed ID: 37405065PubMed Central: PMC10315636DOI: 10.1294/jes.34.51Google Scholar: Lookup The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
Summary
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This research article explores the efficiency of two different hay feeder systems, the Tombstone and the Hay Saver, in reducing hay wastage during the feeding of round bales to mares, with findings indicating the Hay Saver feeder is more efficient.
Background and Aim of the Study
- The study was undertaken to compare the efficiency of the conventional Tombstone-style feeder system with the Hay Saver feeder system in reducing hay wastage when feeding round hay bales.
- Hay wastage due to contamination, deterioration, and animal refusal can be costly for farmers and thus, improving feeding efficiency can have significant financial implications.
Methods Used in the Study
- Mares were used as study subjects and were distributed equally into two groups; those fed using the Tombstone system and those fed using the Hay Saver system.
- Each group was fed six bales over a period of 48 days.
- The hay wastage was collected on a daily basis. It was dried and then weighed to determine the amount of wastage from each system.
- In addition to measuring hay wastage, the mares were weighed on a weekly basis to track any changes in their weight and correlate it with the feeding system.
Results of the Study
- The study found that the Hay Saver feeder showed less hay wastage compared to the Tombstone feeder system. This simply implies that more of the hay was consumed rather than being wasted in the hay saver system.
- It was also observed that the mares in the Hay Saver group had a higher mean weight compared to the mares in the Tombstone group, suggesting a correlation between the feeding system and the animals’ weight.
- Furthermore, the consumption rate per horse was also higher in the Hay Saver group. The higher consumption rate in addition to less wastage makes the Hay Saver system more efficient.
Conclusions of the Study
- The results of the study indicated that the Hay Saver feeder system showcased higher efficiency versus the Tombstone feeder system, suggesting it could be a better choice for farmers aiming to reduce hay wastage and maintain animal health.
- The Hay Saver system was not only better at preventing hay wastage, but also seemed to have a positive impact on the weight and overall health of the mares as indicated by their higher mean weight.
Cite This Article
APA
Hyde KA, Altman A, Banasek R, Gastal MO, Gastal EL.
(2023).
Efficiency of round bale feeders: comparison of Tombstone versus Hay Saver.
J Equine Sci, 34(2), 51-54.
https://doi.org/10.1294/jes.34.51 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Animal Science, School of Agricultural Sciences, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL 62901, USA.
- Animal Science, School of Agricultural Sciences, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL 62901, USA.
- Zoology, School of Biological Sciences, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL 62901, USA.
- Animal Science, School of Agricultural Sciences, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL 62901, USA.
- Animal Science, School of Agricultural Sciences, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL 62901, USA.
Conflict of Interest Statement
The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest that could be perceived as prejudicing the impartiality of this work.
References
This article includes 6 references
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