supplement feeder for bale bed

[LCP]

Thought I'd share some photos of a supplement feeder I made this winter that has worked pretty well. I can't claim the original idea as my own, but this is my version of it. The tire was "take one get three free" from the local elevator. Came off a fertilizer spreader. The plastic on the sides came from an old chemical shuttle (also free from the elevator), attached with self-tapping screws into the "rims". Scrap metal to make the axle and "rims". It would probably hold 1000 lb full. I put in 725 lb (20 buckets) and its about 2/3 full. The piles are about 12 ft apart. The orange paint makes it easier to see when the hole is on top when I want to stop and pick it up.

3-4 mph is fast enough with that sized hole. I wouldn't make the hole any bigger.

Very little waste - of course that would be different in muddy conditions, but we haven't had the luxury of that around here this spring. Soy hull pellets at $125/ton means I can waste a lot before I can justify $275/ton cake.

Kinda nice to see the impact on the old dead grass from the mouths and hooves.

 

[W.T]

That's pretty slick Luke...

 

[LCP]

I've been thinking a little about how I could use this feeder to supplement cows with calf at side later into the winter. Yardage is $0.30/hd/day, so maybe I use this feeder to "pay yardage" to the cow to take care of the calf for an extra month or two in the winter. That 30 cents buys 5-6 lbs of grain, maybe enough to keep the cow in adequate condition to nurse a calf while grazing stockpiled grass or cornstalks.

 

[Big Muddy rancher]

I'd like to see your feeder but the images don't load for me. :???:

 

[PPRM]

I'd like to see your feeder but the images don't load for me. :???:

Me to

 

[George]

I'd like to see your feeder but the images don't load for me. :???:

Me to

Me three!

 

[LCP]

Sorry about that! Google Photos doesn't apparently get along with the Ranchers software. Here's a link to an album. A couple photos of the feeder and a few of the feeding area.

https://goo.gl/photos/WQTzxW2Auwsx3CWYA

 

[Big Muddy rancher]

Looks pretty good, Not sure but I think maybe the first one of those was built by Archie Sabin on the Hargrave ranch near Walsh Alberta. I remember seeing an article about it many years ago.
Your looks very well built.

 

[George]

I like it - - - but with just 18 head I use feed bunks made out of plastic 55 gal barrels