Columbia Basin, Ephrata, WA | I'd say the initial cost difference of about $3-4 per ton with piling being cheaper. The cost difference of the feed by the time it's in front of the cow can favor either way depending on a lot of things. I think on a small dairy (less than 500 cows) bagging can make more cost effective feed in the end, especially with feeds other than corn silage. There seem to be a lot of dairies that size that don't bag becasue they can't get over the initial cost, but IMO they're stepping over a quarter to pick up a nickel.
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Bagging haylage vs. Piling haylage cost factor
