Anyone use a Bextra bale feeder?

[ploughshare]

I am looking a buying a new  bale feeder to cut down on waste.  As much as I want a Hay Mizer it would break the bank right now.  I have been told the cone type bale feeders work well, but don't hold up.  The Bextra has been recommended to me and I am a bit leery. I do like the price of the Bextra compared to the other cone feeders.  Has anyone used these or seen them in action and does the Bextra do a good job at saving hay?

Here is a link to their web site.  http://www.lmp-lcc.com/content/bextra-bale-feeder

If you know of something better, please let me know.

Thanks.

 

[Torch]

I have used one similar to the one you have shown. I would say that the claim of 70% is way over stated. I did save about 25% as compared to a standard hay ring. I would like it better if the top band was solid steel not bars.

I have used a Cyclone feeder (cone type) from Franklin that has stood the test of time. It saves me close to 70% in waste. Of course it cost more but saved me the difference in the first year and has been in use for 5 (and should last for 5 more).

JMHO

 

[VJ]

I've had mine for 3 yrs and I'm not really in love with it. It is just too small to fit over a big 6x5 round bale. If it was another 6" in diameter it would be better and save more hay. I now bale 68" bales instead of 72". You're screwed if your bales squat even a little bit. I don't have forks so I pick it up with my loader bucket. It's holding up good but I wonder how long it will take my "abuse". It definitely saves a lot of hay; especially grass hay.

 

[husker1]

We've got six or 7 of them....for sure saves hay.

Problems...smaller calves sometimes can't reach as the bale gets 1/2 gone.

They have put a brace reinforcement on a few seems that should solid up the bottom metal sheet now (that was breaking off on a couple of our first ones.)

I'd say they are positively an improvement from a regular feeder, but be prepared to have to sometimes move the bale around for access.

 

[kfacres]

we have used something similar...  the top was more of a cone shape, and the cows could slip their heads up it...  which leads to a problem...  eat the bottom side of the bale out, it falls down on the cow, and the cow can't get her head out...  Never killed any cattle, becuase it just pinned them in...  the inside bars were slanted... we would have to go iin and pick the bale back up, and let the cow get her head out...

anyways, worked real well in terms of saving hay, and minmizing waste... don't think really had any waste at all! 

 

[ploughshare]

Thanks for all of the replies.

I did end up purchasing the Bextra.  I was told he had 4 people buy both this feeder and a Franklin cone feeder to  see which was better.  Two of them returned and both bought the Bextra instead of the cone feeder.  That sold me.  I purchased what the seller told me was the extra heavy duty model and I am pretty impressed with how rugged it is.  $569 loaded on my truck.  I did have to assemble and that was not too bad. I have only fed one bale with it so far and it seems to work well.  Much less waste than a regular skirted bale feeder with a 4x5 oat hay bale.

 

[kfacres]

4x5, that's like almost little square bale sized

 

[ploughshare]

4x5, that's like almost little square bale sized

They sure are not very big, weighed around 900 each.  Made so tight it was all I could do to get a bale spike in them.  I think he used a Deere 458 baler.

 

[kfacres]

tight is good! 

 

[VJ]

Watch out for the BIG round bales or soft squatty bales and you should be OK.