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East of Broken Bow | Same here. I started out with smaller turned tires, and now prefer larger unturned ones. They don't move around as much, and aren't quite as tall so calves can eat out of them as well. I even have some 52 inch tires I cut one sidewall out of, and use as bale feeders for small round bales (4X4). Works pretty well, especially with bulls, as they can fight around them and not hurt themselves or each other.
I really don't mind if they move around a bit, I have them far enough apart I can just weave a little with the feed wagon to hit them. Spacing them farther apart reduces waste and fighting as well.
I never thought it would reduce waste, until I started watching the cows after I fed them. With the tires close together, they would grab a bite of hay from one feeder, then run to another feeder, dropping half of it on the way. Put them far enough apart so they don't run from feeder to feeder, but rather go to one, and more or less stay there. It also helps that I don't feed corn with the hay through the feedwagon to the brood cows anymore. When I did, the boss cows would run along behind the feedwagon, and dig for the corn, spilling hay out trying to get to it. Now they get corn fed separately, and spread around enough they can all eat at once. | |
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Tire feed bunk
