Haylage waste!!

[Ryesdexters]

Feeding my dexters on large haylage bales in a yearling feeding ring I'm finding I'm getting a lot of waste on the floor. Being only 5'3" in diameter and a bale being 4' in diameter for the first couple of days the cows heads never go between the bars as its so close to the edge they just pull out the hay and hence a lot falls to the ground. Is there any solution? I'm thinking about a standard ring feeder as they are 7' in diameter and there is more room for falling hay to be left inside the ring and not on the floor or is there any other feeders that are available that are designed differently to help with waste?

[bjreroberts]

Personally I'm not a fan of ring feeders as I find there is too much waste and poaching around the feeder, but appreciate they are far less labour intensive than the alternatives.

I mainly feed mine twice a day on the ground in small piles equivalent to probably half a conventional bale, anymore I find they lie on it and waste it.

If I need to leave any more fodder out then I have a couple of hay mangers that are adjustable in height. I have them set so they cannot reach in the top as otherwise they tend to pull it out and there is more waste.

[Ryesdexters]

Thanks for reply.
I just couldn't feed them twice a day as we also run a business. I feed them a large round bale and that lasts them 5-6 days.
I think having a larger ring will do the trick.
Well you can't say your not dedicated feeding them twice a day!!!!