Round Feeder For Dexters

[Saffy]

Thanks Denise,

I don't know anyone who could make them up for me - not in a reasonable hurry anyway. I have decided on a standard one as although I shall only have a few eating from it I actually got a better price on that than on a yearling feeder which should have been about £20 to £40 or so cheaper, it should be delivered today. Also there is a bit more space so hopefully a bit less chance of bullying off the haylage. I didn't want to run too short of small bales before I got it installed as I am feeding hay to the bull and his companion and some weaned calves.

Thanks everyone for the info!

Also my cattle are gradually getting thinner on the hay - never happened before, it seems very good stuff but I haven't tested it this time and it is ad lib, so I am hoping that my own haylage may be higher feed value, although I know most is down in feed value this year, if they keep getting thinner I shall have to start feeding something else as well.

Stephanie

[wagra dexters]

Hi all, we bought a standard "Waste Not" (Au) ring feeder that divides into 3 parts for transport, then we had six slightly smaller feeders made to fit Dexters, that will still also fit over the top of a large bale, just. Leaving the wrap on the bale until the feeder is in place is the only way it is possible to get the feeder on.

We still need to use the larger feeder as well so when the hay gets so central that they can't reach it, we make room for a drum in the middle and pull the remnant hay around that. When they get fussy and leave dregs we put diluted molasses in a sauce bottle, plastic ones for use at barbeques, and squirt that over the residue hay in the feeder. They rarely clean them right out but not a lot of waste.
Margaret

[Saffy]

The dexters are now the proud owners of a standard round feeder, they can all eat out of it happily including the 3 month old calf but I can see they are going to pull a fair bit out and waste it. They are happily munching away and all look extremely full, it seems really good quality but I can't decide if it is haylage or silage, it is certainly dryish for silage but smells very good.

Stephanie