Has anybody ever bought and used plastic round bale feeders that they're selling now and how well do they hold up with cattle ?

These ones?


We have about 40 of them. They hold up well. We have a lot of them that are over 20 years old. Replace broken bolts as they break. If you don't then the cattle can damage the plasty easier but overall I prefer them to the steel ones.

Too bad they don't make them with a wast ring on the bottom. I suppose a guy could add something.


Thanks, Scott

We really don't have much trouble with waste on them the triple rings towards the bottom act as a waste ring. Of course ours are being cleaned out within 24 hours. If you just have a few head and are only filling it periodically that may be a little different.

Have you had any trouble with bulls wrecking them?

We have a group of about 75 two year old bulls. They are rough on them if you don't get broken bolts fixed right away. Keep the bolts in place and they hold up well. Heifers and cows are pretty easy on them but you will still get occasional broken bolts.

Biggest problem we have with them is smaller animals climbing into them. So we modified some with wooden slats for our groups of young animals to keep them out.

Awesome, Thanks!

I have been looking at doing something different feed the deer because they knock my hay off my feed bunk and then they don't eat it after walking and peeing all over it. Any one have luck feeding deer with a feeder like the one that Dana I shows with the extra wood dividers added or normal metal one?

Schmattz

They sell things to close up the bottom gaps for people that prefer them that way. The plastic ones are a lot longer lasting than steel. But it's tractors and tractor drivers that usually wreck steel rings, not cattle. I have one metal ring that I always lift and drop by hand instead of with the loader, it's probably 15 years old.

M. Magis

I actually tip mine up and roll it over a bale. But min deer have always been used Auction metal rings, the 4 I have just plumb wore out. The cheapest metal one around here is $399.00 and no Farm auctions or online ads for them now.

The ones I see sell at auction are rarely cheaper than they can be bought new. And always "well used". It's like fence materials, I don't know if people have no idea what they're worth or of they just get caught up in the bidding. But most fencing and feeding materials I've seen sell at auction go for more than they cost new.

I agree with you, M. Magis.

I'm getting paid for a cow calf today and buying 1 ring
Still deciding on steel or poly

But leaning towards poly.

Thanks for your Help!!!

Scott

Scott, if you go polly keep us posted. I have been looking into the polly feeders and arguing back and forth with myself. Seems with the plastic rings and stainless bolts they should last forever. The only downside I can think of is they may bend up and kink easier than steel for those lazy fellas like myself that move the things around with the bail spear on the loader.

That black poly one is all I use on my massive operation of 7 cows and a bull. I tried one 2 years and then bought my own. My bulls (been through 3) have never messed with it but will definitely push the bale around before I get the ring on it....I feed a 5x6 bale approximately every other day in the winter when my calves are still on the cows. They flex and I can get off my tractor and move my ring around where I want it easily by just standing it up and rolling it in place. Most times, I just take my bale out and go roll my ring around where I put my bale - but I do have to beat the bull to it cause he likes to rub on a newly placed bale......

4 years into using mine and 0 issues - I would definitely buy another. Hundreds of cattlemen around me have switched to them and most are using several at a time.

330, sure wish I could give you an opinion but I've never heard of poly feeders until your posts, I've had a bull that beat a metal ring into scrap, same with gates. The bull I kept out of him is completely different he pushes them around but not like his dad. Good luck what ever way you go. I'll be looking for your future info on how things work out. Congrats on your so far successful calving season.
Casexx

Thanks
3 calves out of 8 to go

I bought My first 46" 8x8 poly ring. I got it for 389.00 before tax

Let me know how well they work. I'm going to be looking for a couple of feeders this fall