If you drive through Southern MO there is one thing you’re guaranteed to see: round bales. In the fields, barns, and feeders, round bales are used by many people across the United States and for many different livestock including horses.
During the winter months many of my pastured horses can be seen munching on round bales out in the field. One of my senior horses, Penny; however, has equine COPD and has a special winter diet. Hay irritates her respiratory system, so she is fed alfalfa cubes and high calorie corn, beet pulp, & rice bran mush. Having used both round and square bales with my horses, and having heard the bad rap round bales sometimes get in the equine community, I decided to find out if round bales really are or are not okay for horses?
No matter what kind of hay you bale, it’s expensive to do so and requires heavy equipment. Moving round bales alone requires a tractor making them not always practical or affordable which I think is the biggest disadvantage to round bales. Another disadvantage of using round bales is the amount of hay wasted when horses drag the hay apart. They often trample it in mud, only eating the top most layer. Round Bales are often stored outside, thus round bales are more susceptible to mold or bacteria growth, which is a significate colic risk. Many horses will refuse to eat dusty or moldy hay, leading to even more wasted foliage.
Nevertheless, round bales stored and fed correctly can work quite well for horses. Hay rings or nets designed for horses (not cattle) can reduce the amount of wasted hay. According to a study done by Minnesota University, when a feeder was not being used about 57% of the hay was wasted. Storing round bales correctly also aids in their optimization. Round bales intended for horses should be stored inside or covered tightly and protected from the elements. Storing them on a wood pallet or gravel surface rather than dirt allows for moisture drainage. Round bales do not have to be stored in a barn. If stored outside, bales should be stored flat side to flat side and covered with tarps. Aptly stored round bales are less likely to develop mold or bacteria thus helping to decrease the amount of wasted hay.
An advantage to using round bales is that they provide a constant foliage source. A horse’s gastrointestinal system functions best with a steady supply of fibrous substance. Round bales provide free access to foliage, helping to keep your horse healthy. Another benefit to round bales can be the reduction of weekly labor. While round bales only need to be fed once a week, they do require a tractor to be moved. If you have a tractor this is not a problem, similarly if you only have one to two horses performing a couple of feedings every day by hand is not a problem. The use of round bales is better suited for equestrians with several horses in a field, less hay is wasted when fed to more than four horses and weekly feedings are efficient and can save time.
In all, round bales being bad for horses is a misconception. Like anything, when not used or stored correctly, hay bales are susceptible to mold and bacteria growth. Using a feeder designed for equines helps to diminish the amount of wasted hay. Round bales; however, are not for every horse owner or equine. Round bales can hinder a senior horse’s respiratory system if they have pre-existing conditions as the horse is sticking their nose in hay all day. Storage and required equipment are contributing factors to why round bales are not for every equestrian owner. However, using round bales will work for some horse owners and have worked for some my horses for many winters. *Do you use round bales or square bales? Comment below and share your experiences & thoughts!*
Tails & trails,
Reese
Without a tractor or a lot of storage space, I stick to feeding square bales. I can definitely see the appeal of round bales for certain situations like the ones you pointed out in your post though!
Round bale’s not good for my horses, they are rolled and trap dust inside them no matter how good you think the hay is, both mine were fed round bale hay in a round bale feeder, well long story short they both came down with heaves, had to get vet out to them, he said get rid of the round bale’s, go to square bale’s, get the point, now both my horses have non curable heaves and I have to wet there hay and feed square bale’s to keep the heaves at bay. With my use of round bale’s, yes they are bad for horses.
Hello Sandra, thanks for commenting on your experience with round bales. It is defiantly true that round bales are not for every horse. And while I have always had good experiences with them, I am sad to hear that you have not. Wishing you & your horses the best.
Tails & trails,
Reese