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Bale wts?

2K views 10 replies 9 participants last post by  stevenson 
#1 ·
I know that each bale of hey can weigh differently, but I assume they have a cpmmpm range, that cant vary by too much. Can someone tell me the average wt of a bale of orchard and bermuda hay? thanks
 
#2 ·
Depends on where you are. In my area (northern Arizona), our bales of Bermuda are usually 100-120lbs three-string bales. Orchard (when you can find it) is more likely to be ~90lbs two-string bales.
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#4 ·
Yeah, you guys should have similar weights.

And your local feed store should be able to tell you. I'd ask the guys outside loading the hay, though, not the people inside cashiering. The last time I asked the cashiers about bale weight, they gave me a blank look and said "It's a three-string bale?" Asked the guys loading the hay and they knew right away about how much the bales weighed. :lol:
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#5 ·
In my area it's common to find 2-string bales weighing 50-65 lbs or 3-string bales weighing ~100 lbs from the farmers. The feed stores tend to carry compressed bales which weigh 50 lbs.
 
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#6 ·
They can vary widely depending on the baler, first cut, second cut...

I have a feed store here where I can carry two bales in each hand easily. I have another place I can get square bales where they are running about 50-60 lbs. I know the weight varies on the same load because sometimes I can throw them easily into the back of the truck and sometimes I struggle to throw them.

The bales I often buy are around 800 lbs each so I guess they don't count.
 
#7 ·
Here small 2 string bales weigh from 40 to 60 pounds on average, and bigger 3 string bales can run 65-100, but it's harder to find the 3 string bales in my area.

We can get round bales ranging from 600-1000 pounds.
 
#10 ·
It can vary wildly based on the equipment, hay mix, et cetra.
I got Meadow hay a few years ago, and they were having a baler problem. Heaviest bale weighed 115, lightest bale weighed about 25! Same dimensions, same field, same cut, just a baler malfunctioning.
Most of my Orchard Grass bales (2 string) from this year (1st cutting, organic producer) are 85-90 lbs. Last year I bought Orchard grass from a conventional farmer, 2nd cutting, 2 string bales and they averaged about 70 lbs.
 
#11 ·
So CA encompasses a larger area. Most retail bales here are 80 - 100 lbs. Where the hay comes from also is a factor. Is it grown local ? or shipped in from another state ?
If you are purchasing from a feed store, they should know the average, as they probably purchase by the ton not by the bale. if they sell 16 bales per ton, then you can average your bale by weight by dividing into 2000 (a ton) .
 
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